Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Marquinhos and Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Barcelona attempted to sign defender Marquinhos in the summer, but the Ligue 1 champions and player rejected the offer from the Catalans.

PSG manager Unai Emery said Luis Enrique wanted to add the Brazil international to his squad, but the French capital side resisted their overtures.

Emery revealed the defender was happy to remain with the Parisians, as quoted by Spanish newspaper El Pais (h/t Alex Bywater for MailOnline):

"

Barca asked in the summer but he is thankful to PSG who gave him the opportunity to play in a big club.

He might love to play for Barcelona, but he respects what PSG gave him. That said, he's a complete player.

[...]

He is very concentrated and does what you ask of him but he can still improve in terms of leadership.

"

Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

The defender has finally established himself at PSG after the recent departure of David Luiz to Chelsea.

Marquinhos joined PSG from AS Roma in 2013 and initially struggled to make an impact under former head coach Laurent Blanc.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe believed the youngster would have a big future in France once his path to the first team was cleared:

The 22-year-old has started 14 games for his club in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League this term, according to WhoScored.com, but the French giants have failed to hit their usual top form after the exit of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United.

Here is the Brazilian in action:

In other Barca news, Manchester United have not given up on their interest in Neymar, according to the Daily Record’s Duncan Castles. The Red Devils are prepared to break the world-record transfer fee once again as they ready a £180 million offer for the Brazil international.

Neymar recently signed a new long-term deal to remain at the Camp Nou, but Castles reported the player is still at loggerheads with Barca—and a transfer could be the end result.

Castles noted that “well-informed sources describe the deal as ‘a sticking plaster’ over a long standing conflict between the player and his club.”

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

The attacker has formed the most deadly attacking trio in world football as a member of Barca's MSN with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but Castles reported the forward wants to be the “dominant individual” at his current or future club.

As long as Messi continues to be top dog at the Camp Nou, Neymar will play second fiddle to the Argentina international for the foreseeable future.

United and Neymar are a good fit, and the Red Devils have marked their commitment to major signings after capturing Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.

If Neymar does intend to end his time in Spain, the money and challenge on offer in the Premier League would appear the most obvious choice.