Head coach Thomas Tuchel maintains Paris St Germain are working day and night to strengthen the squad as the clock ticks down on the January transfer window.

The Ligue 1 leaders host bottom club Guingamp on Saturday having returned from the club’s traditional winter tour in Qatar.

PSG have been linked with Leandro Paredes from Zenit Saint Petersburg, a player also said to be tracked by English club Chelsea, while German defensive midfielder Julian Weigl is another reported target for the former Borussia Dortmund boss.

Tuchel refused to be drawn on any specifics, but stressed efforts continued behind the scenes to bring in fresh talent.

“There are 14 days left (of the transfer window), it’s short, but we work on it every day, every night,” Tuchel told reporters at a press conference.

“I have confidence in the club so we can recruit players.”

Asked about Weigl, Tuchel continued: “I cannot talk about players who belong to other clubs, it’s not possible. He was my player, but he’s a Dortmund player.”

Tuchel confirmed defender Presnel Kimpembe was still not in contention as he continues to recover from a groin problem which has sidelined him since before Christmas.

The PSG coach will also have to do without midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is training with the reserves after not yet opting to extend his contract, which is up at the end of the season.

Tuchel said: “I have to prepare my team for Guingamp and it will be a team without Adrien Rabiot. I respect the club’s decisions, it is a club decision to let him train with the reserves.”

PSG suffered a shock Coupe de la Ligue defeat at home to Guingamp on January 9, but responded with a 3-0 win at Amiens to extend their perfect Ligue 1 record to 18 matches.

Tuchel believes the trip to Doha helped refocus minds ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, which includes a Champions League last-16 tie against a rejuvenated Manchester United.

“We did a lot of things, a lot of marketing activities, but also a lot of training with a lot of quality,” the German said.

Tuchel is not taking the challenge of Guingamp lightly, having accused his players of over-confidence in their cup tie.

“We want to win, that’s our goal. After, everyone is aware that it is never easy, but we have the opportunity to do it on Saturday,” the PSG boss said.

Despite their shock victory in the Coupe de la Ligue, Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec accepts his team will have to produce another “abnormal” performance to get another positive result at Parc des Princes.

“Paris can be stung by their (cup) elimination, there are players who are not used to losing,” he told reporters. “We know the balance of power, it is very unfavourable to us.”

Guingamp, though, will have been boosted by their midweek win over Brittany rivals Rennes.

Gourvennec said: “Guingamp is better armed today, than we were in mid-December. We have been preparing for a long time to fight until the end of May and we are alive.”