Chelsea must pay £41m for Neymar

Posted Thursday, June 09, 2011 by The Sun

CHELSEA have been told they will have to pay £41million to sign Samba wonderkid Neymar.

The warning comes from Neymar's agent Wagner Ribeiro, who claims ALL the world's top clubs are chasing the striker.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich has already had one bid knocked back by Brazilian club Santos.

Ribeiro said: "Last year Santos received an offer of £32m from Chelsea and it was rejected. Now he would not leave for less than £41m.

"Neymar is like Messi. Soon he will be the best in the world because he is a player unlike any other. He is just 19 but all the big clubs are following him."

Chelsea aim to complete the £20m signing of hot-shot Romelu Lukaku, 18, this weekend and are also in talks with fellow Belgium starlet Kevin de Bruyne.

A Blues delegation is heading to Monaco to negotiate personal terms with Lukaku's agent Christophe Henrotay and Anderlecht general manager Herman van Holsbeeck.

The striker is one of the most sought-after young aces in Europe and regarded as Didier Drogba's eventual successor.

But the deal could all hinge on Genk winger De Bruyne, 19. Chelsea are planning to sign him in a £9m deal then loan him to Anderlecht - and Genk do not want him ending up at their big rivals for nothing.