Neymar could finally be able to return to Barcelona this summer as Barcelona’s bid to sign the Brazilian from Paris Saint-Germain has been given a boost. It has been claimed that his transfer value has dropped by almost 25 per-cent.
Barcelona boss Quique Setien had admitted recently that a move to sign Neymar looked unlikely due to the financial impact of coronavirus but their quest to sign him is now not looking like the impossible mission it had appeared to be before the pandemic.
Reports in Spain claim the impact of the coronavirus pandemic will mean players will be sold for significantly less than normal this summer with teams expected to spend less in the upcoming transfer window, and various figures have predicted that deals over £100million will be a thing of the past.
Last summer, Barca bid £105m for the player they sold for a world-record £205m in 2017. But PSG refused to budge on their valuation of £194m, and didn’t entertain the idea of swapping players either.
With things as they are now, it looks like PSG could be forced to settle for a fee significantly less than what was demanded last summer’s.
Spanish outlet SPORT claims Neymar’s transfer value has fallen by 22-per-cent to £137m from the £177m it stood at before the coronavirus pandemic.
Although that will be welcome news to Barcelona fans still dreaming of seeing the Brazilian ace reunited with Lionel Messi, Barca are still expected to try to engage in a player exchange agreement with PSG instead of meeting his valuation upfront.
Barca president Josep Bartomeu insisted that the club will be offloading players in swap deals due to the financial restrictions brought on by the virus.
But former Barcelona president Emili Rousaud believes the lowering of transfer fees will mean the club is at an advantage when it comes to signing Neymar.
He said: “The coronavirus is going to provoke deflation in the transfer market and the majority of clubs will have financial problems.
“Barcelona will have to analyse if the operation is within the club’s finances. The interest is real, but it’s complicated. There are three parties involved: Barca, PSG and the player.
“If the three look for an agreement, they will find the solution: payment in instalments, for example.
“It all depends on the will of each party and especially on the demands of Neymar.”