Man Utd takeover deadline passes as sensational Neymar transfer thrown into equation
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani will reportedly attempt to bring Neymar to Manchester United this summer if he is successful in completing a takeover of the 20-time English champions.
The Qatari banker is viewed as the favourite to purchase the club from the Glazer family, although it is still unclear whether the American owners are prepared to fully cut ties.
A recent report claimed that Man United co-owners Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer are still in favour of bringing in minority investment, but that is not a view shared by siblings Kevin, Edward, Bryan and Darcie.
Sheikh Jassim has already had two offers turned down by the club, but he is set to make a third bid, although it is unclear whether it will be close to the £6bn valuation set by the Glazer family.
According to The Sun, if the Qatar takeover goes through, Sheikh Jassim will target a big-money move for Neymar, with Paris Saint-Germain thought to be open to a sale in the upcoming market.
Chelsea have recently been credited with an interest in the Brazilian, who has scored 118 goals and registered 77 assists in 173 games for PSG since arriving from Barcelona in August 2017.
This season, the 31-year-old has managed 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 matches in all competitions, but he has been out of action since the middle of February due to a serious ankle injury.
Neymar, who started his professional career at Santos, still has another two years left to run on his contract in the French capital, with the option of a further 12 months.
However, PSG are thought to be keen to shift his enormous salary away from the club this summer despite the fact that Lionel Messi is seemingly preparing to depart on a free transfer.
Man United will be in the market for a big-money forward this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane said to be their leading target in the final third of the field.
However, the Red Devils are allegedly not prepared to enter into lengthy negotiations with Spurs, which could see them switch their attention elsewhere in the early stages of the market.
Neymar has primarily played as a left-sided forward during his professional career, and his arrival would likely lead to Marcus Rashford operating through the middle for the Red Devils.
There are expected to be a number of changes in the final third this summer, with Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga set to leave on loan, Wout Weghorst preparing to return to parent club Burnley, and Anthony Martial potentially departing on a permanent basis.
Neymar has won a plethora of trophies during a glittering career, but he has only lifted the Champions League on one occasion, winning the trophy at Barcelona in 2014-15.
End of line
