PSG have reportedly demanded Barcelona include Frenchman Clement Lenglet in a swap plus cash deal if they want to re-sign Neymar this summer.
As per a report from Spanish publication Sport, Barcelona have been told to include defensive mainstay Clement Lenglet as part of the deal that would see them bring Brazilian superstar Neymar back from Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar enjoyed a successful four-year spell at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017 during which he won two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy. The Brazilian created huge waves in the footballing world, when he left the Catalans to join PSG for a world-record transfer fee of €222 million.
But, it would be fair to say that the 27-year-old’s time in the French capital hasn’t been the success that the two parties would’ve hoped for when the move was made. Neymar has struggled with injuries in the last two seasons, while disciplinary problems have further strained the relationship between the player and the club.
Having grown frustrated with his antics, PSG have decided to cash in on Neymar this summer, with sporting director Leonardo recently claiming that the Brazilian will be sold for the right amount. His potential availability has piqued the interest of Barcelona heavily, with the club keen on boosting their attacking contingent after having failed to lift the European crown for four years now.
While Barcelona have already signed Antoine Griezmann, they are believed to be interested in recruiting Neymar as well. The Brazilian too, is intent on returning to Camp Nou and dropped a hint of the same with his social media activity this weekend.
And now, as per the report from Sport, PSG have told Barcelona that they can sign the 27-year-old, but they will have to make it a player-plus-cash deal that would see centre-back Clement Lenglet make the switch to the French capital.
Lenglet joined Barcelona from fellow La Liga outfit Sevilla only last year and has become the first-choice centre-back for manager Ernesto Valverde alongside Gerard Pique, ahead of fellow Frenchman Samuel Umtiti. The 24-year-old made 45 appearances for the Catalans in his debut season, scoring twice and setting up one more, helping them to the La Liga title.
Lenglet, as per the report, has a lot of admirers at PSG. The 24-year-old could potentially be viewed as the long-term replacement for captain Thiago Silva who will turn 35 years of age in September. However, it remains to be seen if the Ligue 1 champions are able to convince Barcelona to part with the Frenchman.
The relationship between Neymar and PSG seems to have broken down beyond repair which gives Barcelona an edge in negotiations as the French giants would be extremely keen on offloading the Brazilian. However, it will be interesting to see if Lenglet is allowed to leave the Catalans, who have recently been linked with Manchester United centre-back Victor Lindelof.
