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Report: Dortmund midfielder Weigl is PSG's top transfer priority

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Paris Saint-Germain are on the hunt for a new defensive midfielder, and they're apparently turning to Germany to find one.

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl is PSG's top transfer priority this month, sources told ESPN's Jonathan Johnson, with PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel apparently keen to work with the player again.

"Julian is still interesting," Tuchel told RMC Sport this week, as relayed by Johnson. "However, I cannot speak about this. He was my player and we worked together. Julian played very well for us with Dortmund, but he is still one of their players.

"There is one particular case that I am hoping that there will be a breakthrough with as we are in need. Normally, we should have had this player last summer, from the start of the season. We need this player - they are absolutely necessary."

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Tuchel's suggestion that Weigl should have been brought to Paris in the summer could be a veiled dig at sporting director Antero Henriques, whose relationship with the head coach is said to be fractious.

However, the club's hierarchy reportedly agrees with Tuchel that another defensive midfielder is needed to partner with Marco Verratti, as center-back Marquinhos has been forced to deputize in midfield on occasion this season. If PSG does not land Weigl, they may target Everton's Idrissa Gueye or Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure, according to Johnson.

Tuchel signed Weigl from 1860 Munich shortly after taking over as BVB boss in 2015 and the young midfielder quickly became an important part of the manager's vision. In total, the 23-year-old has played 135 times for Dortmund, scoring three goals.

This term, however, with Dortmund flying high atop the Bundesliga, Weigl's found regular playing time harder to come by, particularly due to the summer acquisitions of Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney. Weigl's featured just four times in the league since August and has played the full 90 minutes only once. Johnson believes he's keen on a reunion with Tuchel.

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