Barcelona are showing urgency in their pursuit of PSG star Neymar after reportedly making an improved player plus cash offer involving Philippe Coutinho.
The Neymar saga might drag till the end of the European transfer window. Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to bring Neymar back to the club he left two years ago. To conclude the deal, the Camp Nou side have stepped up their chase. According to Le Parisien, Barcelona have offered around €60 million-plus Philippe Coutinho to PSG to persuade them to sell.
It remains a big question mark about PSG’s willingness to agree to the terms put on the table by Barcelona. The fact remains that the French club will be looking to recoup most of their massive outlay of €222 million. PSG have rejected several offers this summer alone from Barcelona for Neymar, which could be the case with the revised terms involving Coutinho.
The feeling is that this cash plus player offer may not be enough to tempt PSG to cash-in on their record buy. Les Parisiens have reportedly lined up Paulo Dybala as the Brazilian’s replacement, should he successfully move to Barcelona. The fact that this transfer hasn’t yet materialised is because PSG have bad relations with Barcelona ever since they took the Brazilian from Camp Nou.
PSG have shown a reluctance to do a deal with Barcelona. PSG had been resigned to losing Neymar for some time now, and a move would have happened already if the interested party hadn’t been Barcelona. However, there are not many clubs who can afford Neymar and Barcelona are only one of the limited outfits that can.
For Barcelona, apart from raising the money to fund a move for Neymar, there has been another issue on the rise. Widespread reports suggested arch-rivals Real Madrid had stepped up their chase for Neymar, with the Merengues even reported to be in advanced talks with PSG over a move.
Barcelona feel it would be catastrophic to see their primary target move to their rivals. PSG were ready to use Madrid’s interest to spark a bidding war between the two Spanish giants. Neymar has been on Florentino Perez’s wish list for a long time and Real Madrid are ready to take advantage Barcelona’s slow movements to capture the player.
Despite signing Eden Hazard, Neymar could still fit in at Real Madrid, creating a fluid attacking unit also comprising of a central striker in Karim Benzema or Luka Jovic. Additionally, Los Blancos continue to look for a viable Cristiano Ronaldo replacement to this day, wherein the Brazilian international fits as well.
As for Barcelona’s offer, PSG might be interested in taking Coutinho as they have a long-standing interest in the midfielder. The former Liverpool star is not the problem, but the cash offer is. This saga has all the signs of dragging until deadline day.
PSG, with their stance, have the ball in their court, despite the player wanting out of the club. Will Barcelona go further in their offer for Neymar? Or will Real Madrid swoop him away to the Spanish capital? It remains to be seen.
