EUROPE: Barca To Table $190m Final Bid For Neymar

According to several Spanish media outlets, Barcelona are preparing a final cash-only deal to lure PSG into selling Neymar.

This coincides with Barca making Ivan Rakitic available to potential suitors, in a move likely designed to help the Catalan giants raise the money required.

The figure is understood to be around 170m Euros (US$190m), and would involve the player spending this season on loan at Camp Nou, with an obligation to make the move permanent next summer.

This proposal is not too dissimilar to those in recent days, however and it’s difficult to see how it will entice PSG to sell. It’s not known how much Barca are prepared to put up front, which could yet be the deciding factor, as PSG will want to spend what money comes in before September 2.

It’s been widely reported that club President Josep Maria Bartomeu met with key members of the Barcelona board, Monday, to discuss finals transfer plans.

ESPN claims that the potential signing of Neymar was the main topic of discussion, and a delegation made up of various senior Barca heads, the names of whom vary depending on sources, will meet with PSG sporting director Leonardo, today.

Real Madrid seemingly remain interested, possibly only because they have to be seen to rival their bitter foes, and have advised Neymar not to disclose his desire to return to Barca, or they will switch off. Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reckons Bernabeu chiefs could never find a way to square off snapping up a player who loves their arch-rivals.

Therefore Neymar has been told to keep quiet, or one of his escape routes from Paris could disappear.

There is still some rumour around Ousmane Dembele being involved in any deal with Barcelona, and PSG have apparently told Real Madrid that they will want Vicinius Jnr should any deal materialize with them.

On a side note which could yet come into play; PSG has had a 15m Euros bid for goalkeeper Keylor Navas turned down, Real responding by saying they value the Costa Rican at 20m Euros.

A further complication arose at the weekend with injuries to PSG strikers, Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe, which will keep each out for a projected 3 to 4 weeks. This short-term issue may well affect PSG’s thinking without helping the chances of a departure for Neymar.
PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel has just this past weekend expressed his frustration at not being able to select Neymar, stating if he had been given the green light, the Brazilian would have been in the squad that faced Toulouse at the weekend.

Tuchel’s comments would also appear to lift some of the conjecture that’s been flying around regards Neymar’s fitness, or rather lack thereof.

It seems the Brazilian is ready to play. But where will that be?