PSG signed one of the greatest players of all time when they signed Lionel Messi, but before signing him they were targeting a surprise Premier League midfielder.
No one had expected Messi to move in the summer, when all the talk was that Barcelona were going to sign their club captain to a new deal.
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Even when the club initially announced he wouldn't be signing a new deal many believed it was just a ploy to force La Liga into allowing them to do so.
Before PSG got the chance to sign the six time Ballon d'Or winner they were actually interested in signing a midfielder. Most reports had Paul Pogba top of their list but, according to transfer news legend Fabrizio Romano, it was actually someone else.
"For Jordan Henderson, I want to say, behind the scenes, PSG were thinking about signing Jordan Henderson as a potential new signing," Romano claimed on his 'Here We Go' podcast.
"Before the Leo Messi opportunity, because Messi was an opportunity and they jumped into that deal.
The Ligue 1 giants were linked with Pogba for several weeks of the window, with his contract due to finish at the end of this season.
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There were reports that Manchester United would take around £50 million for the Frenchman but ideally wanted to keep him at the club.
Rumours also emerged that Henderson might not sign a new deal at Liverpool and with his contract set to expire in 2023 there were talks he could leave the club, which was when Mauricio Pochettino's side were looking at a move for him.
"Before signing Messi they wanted a midfielder, Pogba was complicated because Man United wanted to keep him and PSG were looking at Henderson before he had an agreement with Liverpool," Romano added.
"Liverpool were very good with their strategy, they had the right proposal at the right moment and Henderson then had an agreement on a new deal."
You have to imagine that even in they had already signed Henderson, PSG would have found the money to sign Messi if he had then become available, down the side of a sofa or something.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Transfers, Premier League, Liverpool, Jordan Henderson, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1, Lionel Messi
