According to L'Équipe, following the acquisition of goalkeeper Safonov, Paris Saint-Germain, under the direction of sporting director Luis Campos, is now leading the race to sign Russian prodigy midfielder Batrakov.

The Lokomotiv Moscow talent, who will soon turn 21 and possesses balanced two-footed technique, has already outgrown the domestic stage after two impressive seasons in the Russian Premier League. Since making his RPL debut in May 2024, he has scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists in 62 league appearances. With his terrifying efficiency in the attacking third, this young Russian international has long attracted the attention of top clubs across Europe.

Standing at only 1.73 meters (according to Transfermarkt data), Batrakov is not a physical powerhouse, yet he perfectly meets all the criteria of a modern all-around attacking midfielder and is seen as the successor to top Eastern European midfield masters like Arshavin. His first coach, Andrey Nagibin, revealed that because he was the shortest child, Batrakov was forced to develop astonishing decision-making speed and top-tier ball control skills, with a mind as sharp as a computer. As he gradually took over the attacking core responsibilities at Lokomotiv Moscow, he demonstrated an extremely strong ability to read the game, with most of his goals coming from one-touch finishes inside the penalty area, perfectly illustrating the characteristics of a new generation of technical playmakers.

For Paris Saint-Germain, the technical attributes of this young player are exactly what is missing from manager Luis Enrique's tactical puzzle. If he moves to Ligue 1, he will not only receive help from his national teammate Safonov but also be able to learn from Kvaratskhelia, who previously played for Lokomotiv Moscow, so he will not feel overly unfamiliar. Although this technical new star, who wears jersey number 83, still needs a lot of refinement to rival famous predecessors, under Enrique's careful guidance, this Russian talent may soon achieve his goal of becoming a world-class star.