Manchester United are eyeing up a 200million (£173m) offer for Barcelona forward Neymar.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the Old Trafford club are willing to activate the release clause written into the Brazilian’s contract to bring him to the Premier League.
On top of the huge fee they would give Barca, United are also willing to pay Neymar €25m (£21m), or £416,000-a-week, to make the switch to England. Last week, Neymar admitted he admired a number of Premier League sides – including United.
‘The Premier League is a championship that amazes me,’ Neymar said. ‘I like the playing style and the teams. And who knows, someday, I would like to play at it, yes.
‘I admire Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool — these are the teams that are always there fighting. ‘And then you have high-level coaches like Mourinho and Guardiola.
These are coaches with whom any player would like to work.’ Neymar had developed into one of the world’s finest players since joining Barcelona in the summer of 2013. Earlier this month he played a key role as the Nou Camp side progressed against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, overturning a four-goal first-leg deficit in dramatic style.
The 25-year-old got the comeback underway with a stunning free-kick in the 88th minute as Barcelona trailed 3-1 at home. And then he converted a pressure penalty during added time prior to Sergi Roberto’s late winner as Barcelona reached the quarter-finals.
