Paris Saint-Germain edging closer to stunning £196m move for Neymar

Posted Sunday, July 23, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Paris Saint-Germain edging closer to stunning £196m move for Neymar
Barcelona star Neymar has been targeted by Paris St-Germain

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN were last night moving closer to an epic transfer deal by agreeing to pay Barcelona £196million for Neymar.

It is more than double the world record fee of £89m paid by Manchester United for Paul Pogba and almost two-and-a-half times that paid by Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Despite the implications for UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules the French side are increasingly confident that they can complete the deal.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu had a meeting with Neymar in the US on Friday and it is believed the 25-year-old made it clear that he wants to leave.

It has also been suggested that he has told team-mates he will be playing for PSG and has agreed a contract of £27m a year, after tax.

Neymar is reckoned to be the 18th highest-paid sports star in the world with £11.54m from his salary and £17m from endorsements.

He ranks sixth in world replica shirt-selling, and a move would spark sales for PSG.

The Brazilian formed a stunning partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Barcelona's frontline.

He made a total of 45 appearances last season and scored 20 goals for Barca.