Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Neymar, Marco Verratti Talks Future

Barcelona talisman Neymar is reportedly open to interest from Manchester United and Chelsea as he seeks to become the best-paid player in Europe. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain star Marco Verratti has said he'll discuss his future at the club this summer.

According to Duncan Castles of The Sunday Times, Neymar would be interested in a move to the Premier League if it would help realise his after-tax salary target of €25 million (£21.2 million)—more than the sums earned by Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

That kind of figure means Neymar would be looking to rake in a wage of around £400,000 per week after tax, which is enough to make even the likes of Chelsea and United think twice about their pursuit.

That being said, the Brazil superstar has already proved he belongs among football's elite when it comes to conversion rate as Big Sport showed just how prolific his ratio has been, regardless of the team he's in:

In terms of how much it would cost to bring Neymar to England, the Telegraph reported last week that United were ready to fork out a world-record figure of £173 million for his services.

However, not long after that report emerged, United boss Jose Mourinho told ESPN Brazil (h/t Telegraph's James Ducker) that the idea of moving for Neymar was "absurd" as he doesn't appear to be a realistic target in the manager's mind:

"

It's speculation, I always try to be objective and pragmatic with clubs and to ask them what they can give me. To ask for Neymar is absurd.

A club like Barcelona cannot and will not lose Neymar. Although [Lionel] Messi is still a young player with years ahead of him, he's almost 30, and Neymar will be the great player of Barcelona post-Messi. So much that I think it [trying to sign Neymar] is like trying to break into a safe, impossible.

"

Despite Mourinho's reference to the transfer being an absurd one, the key to take from Castles would be that Neymar himself might be the one willing to push for a move. Castles also said Neymar wishes to step out of the shadows of team-mates Messi and Luis Suarez so he can become the focal point elsewhere.

In comparison, as mentioned in Ducker's report, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann would be a far cheaper option if United or Chelsea were to pay his £85 million release clause.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Elsewhere, PSG marvel Verratti has told French newspaper Le Parisien (h/t Daily Star's James Walters) he'll talk with the club regarding his future this summer: "I have four years of contract with PSG. I feel good in Paris. As every year, we will discuss with the leaders at the end of the season and we will see."

The Italian moved to Paris from Pescara in 2012 and has grown to become an essential cog for the Ligue 1 titans, but Di Marzio translator David Amoyal recently expressed his doubt he'll be moving anywhere in the near future:

Per Walters' report, Barca have been consistently linked as one of the suitors interested in signing Verratti, 24, presumably as an heir to the throne of 32-year-old Andres Iniesta, who could need replacing in the coming years.

PSG are liable to prove tough negotiators in any deal due to the fact they aren't desperate for the money, but the transfer story could take on an entirely different twist in the event Verratti fancies his title chances more elsewhere.