While the English Premier League clubs are busy getting their transfer deals done ahead of Thursday’s 5pm deadline there’s big news also coming out of France and Spain regarding Neymar’s future.
After joining Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for a world-record £200m fee in 2017 Neymar has told the French champions that he wants to leave. And Sky Sports is reporting that Real Madrid are holding talks with PSG over a deal for the Brazilian.
Despite suggestions that the 27-year-old will return to Barcelona, Spanish newspaper Sport says Real have made an offer of €120m (£110m) plus Croatian playmaker Luka Modric.
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Sport’s Lluís Miguelsanz writes: “The two clubs are close to agreeing a deal. Florentino Perez has done everything to push things through and believes he will be able to complete the operation once he has the OK from Neymar.”
La Liga clubs have a 2 September deadline and Real are confident of getting a deal over the line.
Barca VP: it’s ruled out
It’s no secret that Neymar has expressed a desire to return to the Camp Nou, but Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner has ruled out a move for now.
Speaking to television station TV3 earlier this week, Cardoner said: “As of today, there’s no Neymar case, as the president said, and it’s complicated.
“We are passive actors. We know he’s not happy in Paris and it’s a situation that needs to be resolved in Paris.
“We haven’t spoken to them. There is a lot of respect between the clubs and if there is a Neymar case one day, we’ll talk. Today, at this time, it’s ruled out.”
Waiting on Barca
Sport says there’s “maximum tension” in Spain following Real Madrid’s move for the former Barcelona star.
Neymar will “wait for Barcelona” in case a deal can be done, but the talks with Real should act as a warning to the Catalans.
Barcelona’s big issue though is that Philippe Coutinho remains on their books and they would need to offload the former Liverpool player in order to re-sign his fellow Brazilian.
“Neymar wants to clear his future up this week and his priority is a Camp Nou return, but with Philippe Coutinho still at the club, it’s not straightforward,” said Sport journalist Miguelsanz.
“Neymar’s people believe a return will be unlikely if Coutinho doesn’t leave. Neymar will wait for Barcelona this week and will then make a decision. His main desire is to leave Paris, whatever it takes.”
This summer Coutinho has been linked with a move to Premier League clubs Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United.
However, talkSPORT reports that the playmaker “is desperate to be playing for Barcelona next season as he wants to fight for his place in the first-team”.
