So, this is still a thing.
Last week we brought you the craziest transfer rumour you’re likely to hear this transfer window: PSG signing both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Neymar to Manchester United is comfortably the second most implausible transfer story to emerge recently.
Yet, unlike the Ronaldo, Messi, PSG nonsense story, Neymar signing for United has grown legs and Louis van Gaal was even asked about it in yesterday’s post-game press conference.
Both the Sun and the Daily Star are reporting on the story this morning, with the former claiming United are in “secret”, not so secret, talks with the Barcelona forward.
Apparently Neymar’s agent Pini Zahavi has been “welcomed” at Old Trafford.
Neymar's agent Pini Zahavi welcomed at Old Trafford http://t.co/lQsZZnfeYz #mufc pic.twitter.com/8UThdL13YE
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) August 22, 2015
However, United could be getting the run around in transfer dealings again, because, although Zahavi is an agent, he’s not Neymar’s agent.
Wagner Ribeiro is, and here he is with Brazilian, presumably plotting how Neymar will link-up with Ashley Young this season.
The Daily Star claim that United will have to pay Barcelona £137.8 million to land the 23 year old. Why such a figure? Because it’s Neymar’s buy-out clause.
United have been very successful at activating the buy-out clauses in other Barcelona forward’s contracts recently.
While Neymar, a physical, aggressive player, who would undoubtedly thrive in the robust Premier League, and love England’s tropical climate, has clearly waited all his life to play alongside Marouane Fellaini.
Sorry Messi and Luis Suarez, but it’s inevitable: Neymar will be playing for Manchester United this season.
What’s so funny?
What? It’s going to happen.
It is, stop laughing.
Away from Neymar and Manchester United, The Sunday Times are reporting that Jose Mourinho is prepared to offer Ramires, Juan Cuadrado and a transfer fee to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
Duncan Castles writes that Mourinho feels the Chelsea squad is overstretched, and that, with rivals improving their squads, the Premeir League champions need to strengthen to compete on numerous fronts.
There are a number of stumbling blocks to Pogba arriving at Stamford Bridge, however.
Castles reports that Barcelona have an agreement with Juventus to sign the player next summer, and that the player will command a wage packet that goes against the Chelsea’s more measured strategy in recent years.
What’s for certain is that Mourinho wants rid of Cuadrado.
Finally, the predicted Southampton decline, following an exodus of first-team players, may occur… a year later.
Victor Wanyama has reportedly told the club he wants to leave, with Spurs linked with a move for the former Celtic midfielder.
Mauricio Pochettino wants to sign the player who thrived alongside Morgan Schneiderlin last season, and the Kenyan would command a fee of £18 million.
If Wanyama does leave, he’ll join Nathaniel Clyne, Schneiderlin, and possibly Sadio Mane, in leaving the Saints this summer.
And all those who predicted a year ago Southampton wouldn’t do as well without key first-team players will be proved right, eventually.
Kind of.
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