Manchester United’s pursuit of a prolific striker for the upcoming season has been widely discussed, and new names continue to emerge as potential targets on a daily basis. While the primary focus has been on Tottenham’s record scorer Harry Kane and Napoli’s Serie A champion and top scorer Victor Osimhen, a stunning report from L’Equipe now suggests that United is interested in securing the signature of Brazilian superstar Neymar, who is rumored to be on the verge of leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
According to the report, Manchester United has made the most progress in their pursuit of the 31-year-old forward. Although Neymar was reluctant to leave Paris last summer, the circumstances have changed, and both the player and the club are reportedly open to discussing the possibility of his departure. With the prospect of Champions League football on the horizon and the smooth transition under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United is believed to be ambitious in their plans for the upcoming season, with various parties involved in making this potential transfer a reality. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
United’s influential figure and Neymar’s compatriot, Casemiro, is said to be playing a role in persuading the versatile attacker to join him at Old Trafford. Despite the off-field controversies that have surrounded Neymar, his on-field performances have remained exceptional. In 29 appearances across all competitions this season, he has contributed 18 goals and 17 assists.
However, the L’Equipe report emphasizes that nothing is finalized, and the transfer is far from certain. United’s main challenge lies in the financial aspects of a permanent transfer, particularly Neymar’s substantial wages. While matching the salary demands might not be an issue, the prospect of paying a transfer fee on top of that is difficult to imagine. One possibility could be a loan deal where United covers the player’s wages, despite PSG’s preference for a permanent sale.
It’s worth noting that Manchester United is not the only club interested in Neymar, as Chelsea and Newcastle United have also been linked with the Brazilian superstar. Nevertheless, some skeptics, including ESPN journalists Mark Ogden and Julien Laurens, consider the reports of United’s pursuit of Neymar to be far from accurate.
The final decision regarding this potential transfer should ultimately rest with Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager. Considering Neymar’s injury record and the previous saga involving Cristiano Ronaldo, Ten Hag might approach the situation with caution. Additionally, the outcome could potentially be influenced by the ongoing race for the club’s takeover, with Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani’s potential ownership potentially affecting the likelihood of the deal materializing. In the absence of such developments, it appears unlikely that Neymar will be Manchester United’s primary hope for bolstering their goalscoring capabilities. Follow all the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.
