Neymar is set to join Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £199 million deal after the Brazilian forward informed Barcelona that he wants to leave the club. The potential departure will come as a huge blow for Barcelona and they will want to work immediately on securing a replacement — so who will they go for?
Philippe Coutinho
Club: Liverpool
Age: 25
Transfer value: £110m
Long-since touted as heir apparent to Andrés Iniesta, Coutinho’s ability to also operate in a front three and personal relationship with Luis Suárez have seen a public courting this summer. However, Liverpool have dug in their heels over the Brazilian and are adamant that they will not sell him, having already rejected a £72 million bid.
Kylian Mbappé
Club: Monaco
Age: 18
Transfer value: £150m
European football’s hottest property would not only bring goals, but represent a major coup and restore face given Real Madrid’s interest in the player. Real are reportedly working on a deal for the 18-year-old Frenchman, who scored six goals in the Champions League last season as Monaco made the semi-finals, which could be worth up to £180m.
Antoine Griezmann
Club: Atletico Madrid
Age: 26
Transfer value: £180m (this summer)
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Established amongst the world’s elite, Griezmann would fit in perfectly in Catalonia, but has a €200 million (£180 million) release clause that is halved when Atletico’s transfer ban expires on January 1. Barcelona would face competition from Manchester United for Griezmann’s signature — José Mourinho’s side were set to sign the forward until he changed his mind about leaving earlier this summer following the news of Atletico’s ban.
Paulo Dybala
Club: Juventus
Age: 23
Transfer value: £90m
Barcelona need no introduction to Dybala, a friend and international team-mate of Lionel Messi, after he destroyed them in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg meeting last season. Privately, Juventus would want Barcelona to eclipse the £89 million fee they received for Paul Pogba from United last summer. Publically, Beppe Marotta, the Juventus general manager, said Dybala would not be sold last week. “Paulo won’t be sold at any price,” he said. “We’ve rejected so many offers for Dybala. When a player is happy to stay at Juventus, he’ll stay for as long as he wants.”
Ousmane Dembélé
Club: Dortmund
Age: 20
Transfer value: £80m
Possibly the most viable candidate. Quick, direct and fleet-footed, the France international would represent an almost like-for-like replacement for Neymar but question marks still surround the quality of his final ball. Earlier this week, Dembélé clashed with team-mate Roman Burki during a training session and had to be physically restrained by Marc Bartra, sparking rumours of a move.
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PS . . . Barcelona want Marco Verratti
Club: PSG
Age: 24
Transfer value: £150m
Barcelona failed to persuade the Parisians to part with Verratti earlier on this window, but flush with cash it could be the most face-restoring transfer of them all should they snatch their man from PSG after losing Neymar to them. Verratti has been at PSG since 2012 after joining from Pescara and may want a new challenge at the Nou Camp, although not as a direct replacement for Neymar.