Chelsea transfer news: Todd Boehly appears to be in the market for a marquee signing this summer and Neymar has emerged as a potential option
Neymar faces an increasingly uncertain future at Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea have emerged as a potential escape route. The Brazil international almost joined the Blues in 2010 after the club were said to have offered 'lots of money'.
Despite the financial pull of any offer from west London, Neymar snubbed a move to the Premier League and went on to join Barcelona a few years later. Speaking to the Mirror, Wagner Ribeiro, who brokered the deal which saw Neymar join the Catalan side from Santos for 48m in 2013, explained how a switch to Chelsea collapsed.
"We were in New York before his first international appearance [against the US]," said the Brazilian super agent. "We met the representatives of Chelsea. They wanted him, they offered lots of money but Neymar didn't want to go there.
"He had been on trial at Real Madrid when he was 13. Everyone wanted him at Real Madrid and they were ready to pay a lot for him. But he didn't want to be a long way from his mother and his sister."
So, with that being said, football.london has taken a look at the latest news regarding Neymar's future as Chelsea hope to finally complete their 13-year transfer mission...
Pushing for an exit
According to Brazilian publication UOL, PSG are eager to sell Neymar this summer in order to free up space on their wage bill. In fact, they're so keen to sell the Brazil international that they would be willing to accept a 'significantly' lower offer than usual.
The report adds that Neymar is aware of the French giant's decision and he's now pushing for an exit. UOL have outlined that Chelsea are joined by Manchester United and Newcastle in the race.
Physicality fears
In an interview with the Daily Mail in February 2021, Neymar vented his frustrations at the physicality in Ligue 1. He said: "I do not get to watch a lot of the Premier League, but I have heard that there's a lot of physical contact involved in the game... But the French league also has too much physical contact."
Premier League dream
Despite Neymar's fears of the physicality, he once claimed that every top player must test themselves in the Premier League. As quoted by the Mirror in 2018, the Brazilian said: "It's a big competition. One of the greatest in the world.
"We don't know how tomorrow will be, but I believe that every great player, at least one day, has to play in the Premier League. If you're playing there, then I hope you can keep enjoying the Premier League, because you deserve only the best!"
Secret meeting
Earlier this year, French outlet Le Parisien reported that Todd Boehly travelled to Paris for talks with Nasser Al-Khelafi regarding a possible a deal for Neymar. Foot Mercato later added that the American billionaire later met with the Brazilian's entourage and has now taken the 'matter into his own hands'.
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