DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: Lukas Piszczek of Dortmund is challenged by Layvin Kurzawa of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020, in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Kurzawa’s agents demand 5-year deal & €6m salary

May 11, 2020

Layvin Kurzawa’s agents are asking for a five-year contract and a salary of €6m-a-season, according to reports in Italy.

Paris Saint-Germain's French defender Layvin Kurzawa celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Montpellier Herault SC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on February 1, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) — Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa celebrates after scoring on February 1, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

FC Inter News report that Kurzawa’s agents are making their demands clear to all clubs in the race for his signing on a free transfer this summer. They want a salary of €6m net per season (just over £100k-a-week after tax) and a five-year contract.

According to the report, Kurzawa’s entourage offered him out to Inter Milan, Juventus, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle.

It’s not entirely unreasonable to have high demands when you’re available on a free transfer. The buying club are saving money on a transfer fee, after all. Plus, a five-year deal takes Kurzawa to 32 years old, so this might be his last big contract.

Not only that, but free agents are in particularly high demand this summer. Most clubs probably can’t afford a major transfer fee, and are looking at loans, swaps and frees instead.

All the same, that doesn’t stop it representing a major investment on Arsenal’s part. If they commit to serious wages for the next five years, they can’t have him sitting on the bench for half a decade. They need to be sure he’ll play regularly and earn that money.

Kurzawa wasn’t having the strongest season with PSG before the early Ligue 1 termination. He made 23 appearances (16 starts) and divided opinion with his form.

In fairness, he wasn’t holding PSG back, as they reached the Champions League quarter-finals, won Ligue 1 and reached the final of both cups, as well as winning the French Supercup. He just featured sporadically and was somewhat inconsistent. It’s a gamble to make such a big commitment to bring him in.