Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is reportedly one of a number of players set to be left out of the Ligue 1 champions' squad for pre-season.
The 31-year-old's first season at the Parc des Princes proved to be a difficult affair after his arrival from Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.
Wijnaldum scored three goals and set up three more in 38 fixtures across all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino, but he largely struggled to show his best form.
The Netherlands international only started 18 games in Ligue 1, and he did not play a single minute in his side's Champions League last-16 elimination to Real Madrid.
Wijnaldum remains under contract in Paris until the summer of 2024, but the ex-Liverpool man is seemingly not in the plans of new head coach Christophe Galtier.
© Reuters
According to L'Equipe, Wijnaldum is among a long list of PSG players who will not be linking up with the team for their pre-season tour of Japan later this month.
Galtier's side will begin their period of friendlies against Quevilly-Rouen at their training ground on Friday before facing Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka later this month.
However, Wijnaldum can reportedly expect to be left at home for the duration of the tour, and he is one of several players who are surplus to requirements under Galtier.
A return to the Premier League has been unsurprisingly mooted for Wijnaldum, with Everton and West Ham United thought to have been alerted to his availability.
Wijnaldum is not alone on the PSG transfer list, though, as the report adds that Mauro Icardi, Idrissa Gueye, Ander Herrera and Julian Draxler are also set to miss the tour.
© Reuters
Icardi found the back of the net just four times in 24 Ligue 1 matches last term and will be pushed further down the pecking order if PSG can strike a deal for Sassuolo's Gianluca Scamacca in the coming weeks.
However, the 29-year-old issued a defiant response on Instagram amid recent speculation surrounding his future, saying: "I'm still under contract with PSG for the next two seasons.
"My career is not in danger, contrary to what you journalists suggest. It is I who will decide to stay and make myself available to the club... Don't worry, I'm only 29 and people remember very well what I can do after almost 200 goals."
Fringe players such as Layvin Kurzawa, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, Rafinha and Sergio Rico are also among those set to remain in Paris this month, with PSG hoping to offload the quartet permanently.
Angel Di Maria, Marcin Bulka, Xavi Simons and Alphonse Areola have already left the club on permanent deals this summer, while Colin Dagba has been loaned out to Strasbourg.
Vitinha represents Les Parisiens' only incoming so far this summer, but deals for Scamacca, Milan Skriniar and Renato Sanches could all be concluded before the 2022-23 season kicks off.
