PSG aiming to accelerate deal for Barcelona's Neymar
According to L´Équipe, the Ligue 1 giants are eager to complete "transfer of the century" in the next couple of weeks.
Paris Saint-Germain have committed to sealing a deal for Barcelona forward Neymar as quickly as possible, according to reports in the French media.
L’Équipe reports on Wednesday stated that the Ligue 1 giants have set a timetable to land the Brazil superstar as early as this week, or at the latest by the end of next. The deal is expected to cost PSG 222 million euros – the figure at which Neymar’s minimum release clause is set – with the 25-year-old set to become one of the world’s best-paid players on a potential salary of 30 million euros a year.
PSG feel speed is of the essence
The feeling at PSG, according to L’Équipe, is that the longer negotiations drag on, the less likely Neymar’s arrival at the Parc des Princes will become. Furthermore, the deposed Ligue 1 champions are concerned by the volume of rumours and circumspection surrounding the transfer and have decided to go all out to bring it to fruition as quickly as possible.
Ney-sayers at Barcelona
Barcelona have remained firm in their position that Neymar will remain at Camp Nou but the player’s father has met with PSG’s representatives in Paris and relations between the club and the player's entourage remain frosty. Several media outlets in Brazil and France have speculated that the deal is all but sewn up but the likes of Leo Messi, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué have been active in trying to persuade Neymar to remain. The Spain defender posted a message on social media stating that Neymar was staying, but later clarified this was just a “personal feeling” rather than anything concrete.