Real Madrid Transfer News: Neymar Plan Reported Amid Barcelona Contract Rumours

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly preparing a sensational €400 million plan to sign Barcelona star Neymar—including a five-year contract at €35 million per year—in a bid to "weaken" the Catalan giants.

That's according to Lluis Mascaro of Sport English, who noted Perez wants Neymar to replace Cristiano Ronaldo—whom the Spaniard will apparently sell this summer—and is not only prepared to offer him over twice as much money as he currently earns, but also a €30 million signing-on fee and meet his €190 million release clause.

Mascaro further reported Perez is hoping to take advantage of the Brazilian having not yet agreed to a new deal at the Camp Nou and will help "him get legal impunity" in regard to the ongoing issues surrounding his transfer to Barca in 2013.

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As one of the few other clubs in the world that could afford him, people continue to tout Manchester United as an interested party in Neymar, with Charles Perrin in the Express recently reporting the club are "obsessed" with landing him.

The 23-year-old is expected to be offered a new contract with the Blaugrana in the near future, and with the forward yet to put pen to paper, rumours linking the likes of Real and United look likely to continue.

Barca manager Luis Enrique remains optimistic he will agree on a new deal to stay at the club, though, per the Mirror's Jack Lang.

If it weren't for the fact that Neymar plies his trade with Real's rivals, he would indeed be the obvious candidate to replace Ronaldo.

The forward has a staggering 20 goals and 17 assists in 25 appearances this season and recently finished third behind team-mate Lionel Messi and Ronaldo in the race for the 2015 Ballon d'Or.

With a bag of tricks in his arsenal the Portuguese himself would be proud of and the goal and assist contributions to match, Neymar seems destined to be considered the world's best when Messi and Ronaldo finally slow down.

Football journalist Rafael Hernandez believes Neymar will not be tempted into a move elsewhere and also expects him to stay put:

His father unequivocally confirmed that position. According to Tomas Andreu of Sport English, he told Spanish TV station Cuatro, "Real Madrid?! We have no interest. What media has said that? Marca? Where is it [the story]? ... The only thing I ask if for a little peace and to stop talking. My son’s intention is to continue [at Barca]…and that’s that."

While Perez's interest is understandable and the case of Luis Figo—who went to Real directly from Barca—may give him some hope of pulling off another, perhaps even more incredible, coup, it ultimately seems highly unlikely, and Real's impending transfer ban will only throw a further spanner in the works.

Neymar won five of a possible six trophies in 2015 and is thriving at the Camp Nou alongside Messi and Luis Suarez. Though he may stand to earn even more than his already-considerable wages in Madrid, he has every reason to stay put and forge a career as a Barca legend.