PSG Reportedly Don't Want to Pay Neymar Buyout, Could Use Marco Verratti in Deal

Paris Saint-Germain will reportedly seek to negotiate a fee with Barcelona for the sale of Neymar and could include Marco Verratti as part of any deal. 

According to L'Equipe (h/t the Daily Telegraph), the French giants will try to avoid paying the full €222 million (£197 million) buyout clause in the Brazilian's contract with the Catalan giants. 

L'Equipe also reported Neymar has already agreed a deal with PSG for the next five years and that the club believes it will complete a deal in the coming days (h/t Marc Isaacs of the Daily Mirror).

Isaacs suggested that PSG would still be willing to break the transfer record to sign the 25-year-old, although they feel as though there is room to manoeuvre below the buyout clause.

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Verratti has long been linked with a move to Barcelona, and L'Equipe said earlier in July that the Blaugrana were not giving up hope of signing the Italy international (h/t Juan Jimenez of AS).

The midfielder's arrival would soften the blow of losing Neymar. Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho could also move to the Camp Nou, per Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol.

You sense Barcelona would not be willing to entertain any offers below Neymar's buyout clause, though, such is his importance to the team.

After all, he has long been earmarked as the man for the future at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta are wonderful players, but they are all 30 or older; the Brazilian is expected to be the talisman for the next generation at Barcelona, and he's already achieved world-class status.

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Neymar both scores and makes goals for fun, and there aren't many footballers on the planet who can quicken the pulses as he can.

During pre-season, he's been in particularly spellbinding form. Per 101 Great Goals, he's performed well against quality opposition too:

"

90 minutes of pre-season so far.

3 goals v Juventus & Manchester United

Neymar looking good value at €222m! pic.twitter.com/8a7AKgEUbG

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) July 27, 2017"

Verratti would improve Barcelona enormously. The midfielder can set the tempo of games, drift past challenges and exploit weaknesses in an opposition's defensive structure. Usually so strong in the middle of the pitch, the Blaugrana were frequently bullied in that area last term.

Even so, Neymar's departure would offset the impact Verratti's arrival would make. It would be a catastrophe for the Catalan side to lose the forward, and with that in mind, PSG will surely be unsuccessful in their attempts to broker a less expensive deal.