Chelsea report: Blues ready to pay Neymar's wages and plot bid for PSG star

ByAlasdair Mackenzie
published

Neymar was linked with the Stamford Bridge club in the summer, but wages were an issue.

Neymar Jr of PSG during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica at Parc des Princes stadium on October 11, 2022 in Paris, France.
(Image credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Chelsea are prepared to fork out the astronomical wages required to sign Neymar from PSG next year, according to reports.

The Brazilian was linked with a Stamford Bridge switch in the summer, but the move didn’t transpire despite the Blues’ world record £274 million spending splurge.

However, a deal may not yet be dead in the water.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly

Todd Boehly has splashed the cash since taking over at Stamford Bridge. (Image credit: Getty)

According toEl Pais(opens in new tab), the Blues want to make the move happen in 2023.

Chelsea were offered the chance to bring Neymar in on loan over the summer, but the Blues wouldn’t pay more than €10 million of the Brazilian’s €40m-per-year wages and a deal failed to materialise.

However, the Blues are said to now be open to a permanent deal that would see them take on Neymar’s full €40m-per-year net salary packet.

Newcastle came in for Neymar in the summer, but the player didn’t want to make the move to St. James’ Park.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar of Liverpool during the warm-up prior to the Ligue 1 match between Lyon and PSG on 18 September, 2022 at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar (Image credit: Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

The 30-year-old’s move from Barcelona to PSG in August 2017 remains the biggest transfer of all time, coming at a cost of €222m (£190m).

But the Brazilian is no longer the undisputed star of the team in Paris, as he now shares a forward line with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Neymar scored his 200th club goal in a 1-0 ‘Le Classique’ victory over Marseille on Sunday.

It continued a fine start to the campaign from the forward, who has 12 goals and nine assists to his name from 16 appearances in all competitions.

Neymar, who has a contract until 2025, is valued at £67.5m byTransfermarkt(opens in new tab).

更多的切尔西的故事

Chelsea aresaid to have made long-term target Declan Rice their top transfer target for 2023.

Meanwhile, it's beenreported that the Blues at the front of the queue to sign AC Milan and Portugal forward Rafael Leaoandthat they've already made an acceptable offer to RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku.

In other news, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasdescribed how he's found it "strange" not to be playing under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea – after the German was sacked last month.

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Alasdair Mackenzie

Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and aFourFourTwocontributor since 2015. When not pulling on theFFTshirt, he can be found atReuters,The Timesand thei. An Italophile since growing up on a diet ofFootball Italiaon Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.