Barcelona Reportedly Deny Suggestions They Are Negotiating Neymar Fee with PSG

Barcelona have reportedly poured cold water on suggestions they are negotiating a transfer fee with Paris Saint-Germain for Neymar, but club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has admitted their players ultimately decide their own futures.

Sources at the club told Sport the former, despite reports in France indicating PSG would open talks with Barca to hash out a lower transfer fee for the Brazilian after reaching an agreement with him.

The club want to keep hold of the forward, and the possibility of him coming back to haunt them in the UEFA Champions League likely makes them even more reluctant to part with him.

There are several other factors being considered by the Blaugrana, such as PSG's refusal to negotiate with them regarding Marco Verratti and the "open disgust" with which the French club's directors reacted to their interest in the Italian, despite his desire to move.

Sport added that both clubs are also still waiting on Neymar to make a decision on his future and that if he were to join PSG, the French outfit could end up paying more than his buyout clause but "over a longer period, so it is not so onerous."

Bartomeu echoed the notion that the deal is, to an extent, in Neymar's hands, but reiterated their desire to keep him. He told the New York Times (h/t Marca):

"Neymar is one of our best players and we do not want to lose him. We want him to continue with us, he still has four years left, but the players decide if they want to go so there's nothing more to say.

"We need him because, if we want to win [trophies], we need to have the best players."

PSG are hoping to expedite his decision one way or another, per L'Equipe:

Neymar haunted the Ligue 1 side last year when he scored and assisted twice apiece in Barcelona's 6-1 victory over PSG in the Champions League to complete their comeback having lost the first leg of their last-16 tie 4-0.

Overall, he notched 20 goals and 27 assists in all competitions last year.

Despite his goal tally being somewhat down on the two seasons prior, Neymar has boasted an extraordinary goalscoring record throughout his career, per Squawka Football:

With Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both 30, the Brazilian staying put at Barcelona will be useful when the time comes for them to transition their forward line to a younger generation, and no one is better placed to succeed the former's throne than Neymar.

He'd equally be a game-changer for PSG, helping them not only maintain a stranglehold in Ligue 1 but also boost their chances of European success.

If he were to leave it will be a complex deal to negotiate, so this saga could rumble on until he makes an announcement on his future and potentially beyond, if he opts to move on.