Barcelona Transfer News: Huge Marco Verratti Bid, Latest on Neymar Exit Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly preparing a €60 million transfer offer for Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti, while vice-president Jordi Mestre has once again dismissed rumours Neymar could leave the club in the near future.

According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica (h/t Sport), Barcelona are prepared to spend even more than the €60 million they’ve put forward if that’s what it takes to land Verratti. On top of that, the club would be willing to pay him up to €6 million per year in wages.

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Sport added PSG are unlikely to sell Verratti anytime soon, and the Italian is yet to give any indication he would be interested in a summer move to Spain.

Since joining PSG from Pescara, Verratti has developed into one of the best playmaking midfielders in Europe. The 23-year-old plays with a mean streak and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, but he’s also a remarkably gifted passer who does a great job opening up space for his team-mates.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

His defensive prowess is a major bonus, and most pint-sized playmakers are usually more of a liability when asked to mark a player closely. Per WhoScored.com, the Italy international averaged over 3.5 tackles per match in the UEFA Champions League this season.

His absence played a big role in PSG’s shock Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester City. WhoScored.com’s Dinesh Hardayal thought Les Parisiens’ midfield simply didn’t look the same without him and Blaise Matuidi pulling the strings:

The Ligue 1 champions also saw this, and given Verratti’s value to the team, his young age and tremendous long-term potential, Les Parisiens likely won’t even entertain the idea of a sale.

PSG is one of few clubs who could turn down a €60 million offer without batting an eye, and Verratti is already worth far more than that on the open market.

On top of that, the Blaugrana currently don’t have the financial means to complete such a deal. Per Sky Sports' Guillem Balague, the Catalans can’t add to their current wage structure due to financial fair play regulations, and unless they sell a handful of players, that won’t change during the summer.

They’ll also have to sign the likes of Neymar and Sergio Busquets to new contracts, further limiting the amount of money they can spend on new signings. Expect players to arrive, but none of the calibre of Verratti, unless a major star is sold.

That star won’t be Neymar, per Mestre, who once again denied rumours the Brazil international could be on his way out of Camp Nou during an interview with Barca TV (h/t Sport):

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Absolutely not. I’ve said it many times, but it’s something which keeps coming up. I have said it actively and passively. We are delighted with Neymar and he is not for sale - it’s not even crossed our minds. He’s a player who made an economical effort [there were better offers elsewhere] when he signed, he came because he wanted to play good football, with [Lionel] Messi and company, win titles. He’s having a spectacular season. 

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He also said he’s optimistic Barcelona and Neymar will agree to a new contract at some point, and the Catalans hope he won’t participate in this summer’s Copa America.

Speculation regarding Neymar’s future has resurfaced in recent weeks, likely as a result of the forward’s poor form and Barcelona’s Champions League exit.

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Diario Sport (h/t Pete Jenson of the MailOnline) ran a poll asking fans whether they would consider selling the Brazilian if his £150 million buyout clause was triggered, with almost two-thirds agreeing with such a move.

Pundits also haven’t been too impressed with his form of late, including La Liga writer Rafael Hernandez:

The sudden criticism feels like a knee-jerk reaction to Barcelona’s poor form, as Neymar was one of the heroes of the first half of the season, stepping up in the absence of Lionel Messi. With 21 goals and 10 assists in 29 La Liga starts, it’s hard to argue with his production, per WhoScored.com.

As long as Neymar doesn’t sign a new deal, transfer speculation will persist, but at this point in time, he still looks far more likely to stay with the Catalan giants than leave.

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