Barcelona ready player-plus-cash transfer bid for Neymar after Matthijs de Ligt signs for Juventus

Focus: Barcelona have set their sights on a sensational deal for Neymar
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Ben Hayward17 July 2019

Barcelona are ready to focus their efforts on bringing back Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain after another of their main transfer targets for this summer, Matthijs de Ligt, signed for Juventus on Tuesday night.

De Ligt had seemed set to move to Barcelona earlier on in the year, but priorities have changed at the Catalan club since then and the 19-year-old Ajax defender completed a €70 million transfer to Juventus on Tuesday.

Having wrapped up a €120m deal to sign Antoine Griezmann on Friday, Barca are looking to put together a package for Neymar to return to Camp Nou, two years after he left to join PSG in a world-record €222m transfer.

PSG want around €200m for the Brazilian attacker, who has told the French champions he is keen to leave this summer, but Barca are hoping to seal a player-plus-cash deal for their former forward.

According to L'Equipe, Barca are offering Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic plus €40m for Neymar, with the French sports paper describing that proposal as a "very bad deal" on their front page on Wednesday.

Barca have limited funds available after paying Griezmann's release clause and may have to put forward a more attractive proposal to convince PSG to do a deal this window.

Publicly, Barca have claimed Coutinho is not for sale, with the player's agent told last week that he is part of their plans. Privately, though, he is available and it has long been thought he may be sold in order for the Blaugrana to bring back Neymar.

Meanwhile, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel admitted on Tuesday that he has known for some time that Neymar wants to leave.

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"It always disappoints me when a player arrives late," he said after PSG's 6-1 win over Dynamo Dresden, in reference to the Brazilian failing to show up in time for pre-season training. "But between us, everything is clear. We all work together.

"Did I know Neymar wanted to leave? Yes, from before the Copa America, but it's something between Ney and the club."

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