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Football

01st Sep 2018

Paris Saint-Germain complete surprise signing of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from Stoke

Simon Lloyd

It’s been a funny old summer for Paris Saint-Germain

Neymar appeared set to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Then it was Kylian Mbappe. And then it was Neymar again. In the end, neither of their two biggest names left for the Bernabeu.

Equally, there’s not been much in the way of high-profile arrivals, either. Gianluigi Buffon postponing his retirement aside, talks of moves for Jerome Boateng, Paul Pogba, Gareth Bale, Christian Eriksen and N’Golo Kante failed to result in any of those players actually signing for the French champions.

One player that has arrived through the PSG doors this summer is Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, whose move from Stoke City wad confirmed on Friday night.

Having spent a season in England, it’s fair to say his five goals for Stoke didn’t exactly light up the Premier League – nor were they enough to help the Potters remain in the top flight.

With this in mind, it’s come as something of a surprise that PSG have decided to bring the German-born Cameroonian striker to the Parc Des Princes.

The move is partly explained by the fact the player used to play for recently appointed PSG boss Thomas Tuchel at Mainz, scoring ten goals for them in the 2013/14 season.

Despite this, it’s still fair to say that Choupo-Moting linking up with Neymar and Mbappe at PSG has come as something of a surprise to many of those hearing the news.