Mission accomplished for PSG: Di Maria & Kurzawa in, Ibrahimovic stays

The French transfer window closed at midnight on Monday and, with it, Laurent Blanc breathed a sigh of relief, having announced a few weeks ago that he was looking forward to the end of business. This season, it has not been easy for the Paris Saint-Germain board. Between the lifting of Financial Fair Play (FFP) constraints, the lengthy negotiation for Angel Di Maria and the hope of several players departing, a show of strength was necessary to prevent the club from weakening and, after three months, the French champions have emerged from the market significantly stronger.

On the arrivals front, 'one star a year' continues to be something of a pledge for the PSG board. This summer, their sights were set on Angel Di Maria. It was a deal that was slow to materialise but highlighted that the capital club's project is on the right track. We know what the Ligue 1 holders told the Argentine: that he can win the Champions League at Parc des Princes. Since his signature, the ex-Real Madrid star has repeated that he is there with that objective in mind. It is a short-term vision.

The other big success for PSG is the arrival of Kevin Trapp. Although it is hard to judge the German so far this season as he has had so little to do, his assurance must be recognised. The former Frankfurt goalkeeper has not conceded a goal since he joined. There has rarely been better than a 450-minute unbeaten start to the season. The German has qualities not found in Salvatore Sirigu. His kicking game and willingness to come from his box mean that Trapp is now the foundation of Blanc's defensive system. The Italian had trouble filling this role.

Finally, Layvin Kurawa and Benjamin Stambouli are two players for the future. It is one way to prepare for when Maxwell and Thiago Motta leave the club. They will have to be patient as they try to shake the hierarchy this season. No mean feat but, in signing for PSG, each knew what awaited them.

Salvatore Sirigu, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Motta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic: this could have been the list of players to leave PSG in the summer but the French giants were steadfast and retained their key players. Motta's case is the most striking. While the Italy international prevailed in his fight to get a wage rise, the fact remains that he extended his deal. Retaining one of their best players shows the club to be gaining strength. The midfielder also perfectly summed up the situation after their game against Gazelec Ajaccio, explaining: "The most important thing is PSG. Players will go but the club remains so it must do what is good for the club."

Lavezzi might have gone to Inter but PSG finally chose to keep a player who has become very important off the field. A great friend of Di Maria, he will help to integrate the former Manchester United man. "I think Pocho's important for Angel," Blanc told the media on Sunday. "If a player's happier off the field, it's much easier."

Only Nicolas Douchez will end the transfer market disappointed. The goalkeeper did not want to end up No.3 and the board were waiting for an exit door to open for Sirigu but, with few offers at his disposal, the Italian has been forced to resign himself to stay. And he will have to fight for his place. With Gianluigi Buffon approaching the end of his career, the former Palermo goalkeeper cannot afford to miss the train for the national team, which is on its way. If by January the situation has not changed, the goalkeeper will perhaps accept one of the challenges which he rebuffed this summer.