Neymar ‘ready to leave’ PSG as Chelsea handed transfer boost after February meeting with club official

Chelsea have been put on alert ahead of the summer transfer window over the availability of Neymar, who is ‘ready to leave’ Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports.

Co-owner Todd Boehly is an admirer of the Brazil international and Neymar is looking to part ways with the Parisian club, which would end a six-year stay at the Parc des Princes.

Neymar arrived from Barcelona for €222 million in 2017 and was close to leaving last summer, however PSG were unable to find a suitor for the attacker, who was reluctant to leave at the time.

One year on and the situation remains the same; Neymar is open to leaving and PSG are ‘willing to let him go’ but only if the right offer materialises, according to Julian Laurens of ESPN.

Chelsea‘s new owners have been previously linked with Neymar and it’s been revealed that PSG chairman Nasser al Khelaifi held a meeting in February with Boehly over a possible deal for the 31-year-old.

Boehly is a ‘big fan’ of Neymar, who they have spoken about since the February meeting, and the American ‘would like to see him at Stamford Bridge’.

Neymar, who has four years left on his current contract, was told to leave the club last week by club ultras who chanted outside of his house.

ESPN report it’s made Neymar have a change of heart and he ‘doesn’t feel welcome anymore’.

Neymar is claimed to prefer a move to the Premier League. His €40 million-a-year wages could prove to be a stumbling block, as well as the astronomical transfer fee required to acquire the Brazilian, but PSG are ready to be ‘accomodating’ on the structure of a deal. This could come in the form of a loan plus an option to make a move permanent.

If Chelsea were to want to bring Neymar to the English capital, they would need to complete a huge summer overhaul. Plans are in place to offload many players this summer, but to financially afford a player like Neymar would likely require some big name exits.

Wingers Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi are all set to be available to move on at the end of the season, with Chelsea currently targeting a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a striker to bolster their squad.

A final decision on the squad will be up to the next head coach. Mauricio Pochettino, who has worked previously with Neymar at PSG, is expected to be named as Graham Potter’s successor, with confirmation possibly coming as early as this week.

In April 2021, the 51-year-old lauded Neymar, as quoted by the Guardian, admitting: “It’s so easy with Neymar because you don’t need to do too much. From day one, he’s been very open to work. He’s very humble, he listens and always accepts all the instructions in a very good way.

“Brazilian players have something special inside. They love to play football because it’s like a dance. They play like they are dancing. Ronaldinho was my teammate when I was a PSG player and now Neymar. They need to feel good, to feel happy to perform in the best way.”