Manchester United have reportedly turned down a sensational offer from Paris Saint-Germain that would have seen Neymar and Paul Pogba switch clubs.
According to a report from the Independent, Manchester United have rejected a chance to sign Brazilian superstar Neymar in a potential swap deal that would have seen midfield mainstay Paul Pogba move to PSG.
Both Pogba and Neymar are unsettled at their respective clubs and are looking for a transfer away this summer. Manchester United superstar Pogba claimed in a recent interview that he was ready for a new challenge in his career. The Frenchman is a top transfer target for La Liga giants Real Madrid, but PSG reportedly made an attempt to sign the 26-year-old.
PSG are losing Adrien Rabiot this summer, with the midfielder deciding not to extend his current contract that expires this week. They are keen on adding another creative presence in the middle of the park to partner Marco Verratti and had hoped that Pogba would be the ideal fit, as they look to mount a serious challenge in the UEFA Champions League.
To that end, the French champions were willing to allow Neymar to join Manchester United in a mind-blowing swap deal. It is no secret that things have failed to work out between the Brazilian and PSG since his world-record move from Barcelona two years ago.
Neymar, during his two-year-stint with PSG, has had his fair share of injury issues, while there have been disciplinary problems as well. Recently, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi took a dig at the former Barcelona star and hinted that the club would be open to a sale if the 27-year-old did not mend his ways.
There have been murmurs of a return to Barcelona for the Brazilian, but PSG, as per the report, approached Manchester United about the possibility of directly swapping Neymar for Pogba this summer, only to be met with rejection by the 20-time English champions.
Manchester United could no doubt use a star addition like Neymar after a disappointing 2018-19 campaign. However, they have decided to turn down PSG’s enticing offer as they deem the Brazilian’s wage demands would be too expensive to justify.
Neymar currently pockets around £900,000-a-week at PSG, which would be almost double what Manchester United’s highest wage-earner Alexis Sanchez makes. The Red Devils believe such a wage disparity could create disharmony within the squad, according to the report from the Independent.
Moreover, the report further adds that Manchester United are still keen on holding onto the services of Pogba, despite his public admission of wanting a transfer in the summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken about building a team around the Frenchman previously, who despite attracting his fair share of criticism, remains United’s best player. The 26-year-old is also integral to the club’s marketability across the world as well, and that is why the Manchester United hierarchy remain reluctant on losing him.
The Independent add that the swap deal between United and PSG has little chance of happening, but there is a good chance that both players might not be playing for their current clubs come next season, with Barcelona emerging as the most likely destination for Neymar, while Pogba could very well end up at Real Madrid.
