Beckham role at PSG enhances prospects of Premier League return
Published:Rewind 12 months and PSG had to dispose of 80,000 shirts with David Beckham’s name printed on the back, convinced they had signed their man only to discover he was staying on at LA Galaxy.
This time, they avoided looking so foolish by being more restrained with their announcement, even if they ensured maximum exposure by making the deal public knowledge on transfer deadline day, something that was unnecessary given that Beckham was being acquired for free.
The capture completed a productive window for PSG, as they also brought in Lucas Moura and this duo are expected to ensure at least one trophy this season.
Beckham has only signed until the end of the season, but it is 1/10 that he secures at least one trophy in his time at the club.
This is likely to be Ligue 1, with PSG currently joint top of the standings alongside Lyon, while they are also still in the Coupe De France.
It is 1/3 that PSG win Ligue 1 this season.
The Champions League is the big ask, but PSG are more than capable of coming through their last-16 tie with Valencia.
PSG are 8/15 to reach the quarter finals and 16/1 to become the first French winners of the competition since Marseille 20 years ago.
With Carlo Ancelotti struggling to settle on a stock formation at PSG, it is not obvious where Beckham will fit in, although doing a job similar to Andrea Pirlo at Juventus would appear the most logical.
He may struggle as part of a central midfield pair these days, so PSG will almost certainly have to start three across the midfield, leaving Jeremy Menez, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi to fight for an attacking spot alongside Moura and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Other Beckham specials include 6/4 that he plays in the Premier League again before retiring.
It is becoming more fashionable now for deep-lying midfielders to be more creative now than the enforcer-like figures of a decade ago.
Mikel Arteta has stepped into this role for Arsenal, Michael Carrick starts here of Manchester United, while Liverpool spent quite big money on Joe Allen.
This enhances the possibility of Beckham making a Premier League return.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
