Paris Saint-Germain are interested in Lassana Diarra's availability in the January transfer window, sources close to the French club and the player have told ESPN FC.
Diarra, 32, has been of interest to the Ligue 1 leaders as a successor to holding midfielder Thiago Motta since he was spell at Marseille from 2015-17. Despite Adrien Rabiot's decent efforts at filling the role, sources have said that a more natural fit is needed.
According to the source close to the player, PSG and Diarra were close to agreeing terms when former sporting director Olivier Letang and ex-director of football Patrick Kluivert were handling transfers in Paris. However, since Antero Henrique's arrival as the former's replacement, Diarra's profile is one that has been revisited.
UAE Arabian Gulf League side Al Jazira confirmed on Christmas Eve that Diarra's contract had been cancelled by "mutual consent" but the source close to the player revealed that the decision had been taken some time before that as the reigning UAE champions intend to sign a different foreign star.
Henrique has already declared, in an interview with Le Parisien before Christmas, that there is no need for significant January transfer action but coach Unai Emery contradicted him by telling a news conference before the 3-1 win over Caen that No. 6 is a potential area that can be "improved."
The source close to PSG indicated that a move for Fluminense's Wendel is still expected to be concluded, possibly through an investment fund, and the Brazilian will then likely join Porto on loan -- as reported by A Bola.
However, one thing that is almost certain is that PSG will not make anything about Wendel official until he links up with the squad next preseason.
Diarra could be seen as a short-term fix to PSG's depth issues between now and the end of the season, with Wendel a more long-term solution.