Neymar Jr: Chelsea hold “secret meetings” with PSG while Brazilian seeking Barca move

During this summer, Paris Saint-Germain is open to considering offers for Neymar Jr, following his expressed desire to depart the club. Depending on the interested buyer, offers ranging from £50m to £80m will be taken into account by PSG for Neymar, who currently holds the title of the world’s most expensive player.

Although Neymar’s preference is a return to Barcelona, the feasibility of this move remains uncertain due to Barcelona’s financial challenges. Despite PSG’s initial denials, there has been confirmation from management that Neymar is seeking an exit.

With three years remaining on his £25m-per-year contract, the question arises whether his departure is voluntary or enforced. At the age of 31, Neymar Jr is not believed to be a central figure in the plans of the new head coach, Luis Enrique, who is in the process of assembling a fresh team.

PSG has shown a willingness to sell Neymar as part of their strategy to focus on cultivating a younger, more determined squad. Various clubs across Saudi Arabia, Brazil, the USA, and Europe are anticipated to pursue the player’s signature this summer. Notably, discussions with Chelsea were held in January.

Paris has experienced a tumultuous summer, marked by Lionel Messi’s departure and a prominent standoff involving Kylian Mbappe. The club has come to terms with the inevitability of selling French striker Mbappe this summer or risk losing him as a free agent next year when his contract expires.

Messi’s earlier departure to join Inter Miami and the potential exits of Neymar Jr and Mbappe would symbolize the definitive conclusion of an era for PSG. The club is striving to shed the ostentatious image described by their president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, in the past, and is focusing on nurturing players internally rather than solely relying on high-profile superstars.

Neymar’s signing in 2017 from Barcelona for €222m (£200m at that time) epitomized the previous approach, which was characterized by extravagant spending.