Neymar could join Premier League side on loan

It took a bit of time, but Neymar is back on the front pages of most French newspapers with rumors spreading about his short-term future (or the lack of it) in Paris.

Despite being under contract at PSG until June 2027, the Brazilian superstar appears to have cracked open the door to a potential departure, a significant shift from his previous intentions of seeing out his contract.

PSG's management, while publically stating that they are not open to selling their prized asset as recently as a few months ago, seems to be aligned behind the scenes on this matter, signaling a potential change in their stance.

The club from the French capital is reportedly looking for suitors that are willing to pay Neymar's hefty salary, and that's pretty much all Nassr Al-Khelaifi wants in exchange for getting rid of Ney according to L'Equipe.

The French newspaper suggests on Tuesday's edition that some within the club view Neymar's potential exit as a way to steer the team towards a less flashy and more disciplined approach, while others believe it could provide an opportunity to construct a more balanced squad around their other superstar, Kylian Mbappe.

Although Neymar is not actively pushing for a departure, according to L'Equipe, he has sensed the changing winds and is now open to exploring new adventures elsewhere.

L'Equipe reports that "Neymar, along with several other players in the PSG locker room, remains puzzled by the club's overwhelming reliance on a single individual," that particular man being Mbappe. Truth be told, this is not the first time both men clash, with the early-season Penalty Gate already making headlines across the world.

Talks and contacts regarding a possible departure have reportedly already begun, with Manchester United emerging as the primary suitor, an option that Neymar would favor as he's reportedly interested in playing in the Premier League at some point.

The report suggests that Casemiro, Neymar's compatriot and teammate in Brazil's national team and who joined Manchester United last summer, is attempting to persuade him to make the move to England. However, as of now, no concrete steps have been taken in that direction.

PSG are "keen on recouping a substantial portion of their initial investment" they made when they signed Neymar from Barcelona for a reported fee of €222m, although that's unreasonable, to say the least.

Man Utd surely have the financial power to pay Neymar's astronomical wages, but there is no chance at all they pay even a fraction of the lump sum PSG ponied up to snatch Ney from Barcelona.

According to information obtained by L'Equipe, PSG are even thinking about "a free loan arrangement in which United would cover Neymar's entire salary," even if the Premier League side don't pay a single buck to PSG for the rights to landing the player in Manchester. As crazy as that sounds.

That, of course, is "not the preferred option for PSG's management, who would instead favor a permanent transfer," adds the newspaper. Nevertheless, if no alternative arises, they might "reluctantly consider a loan deal, with or without an option to buy," as a "last resort," in order to send Neymar packing.

Leaving Neymar off the wage bill, no matter how, would provide PSG with substantial financial relief, particularly if it goes along with the expected departure of Lionel Messi, granting them greater flexibility in the upcoming transfer window to build around the face of the team in Mbappe.

L'Equipe reports that "a meeting will take place in the coming days" between Neymar's representatives and Luis Campos, PSG's sporting advisor, "to further discuss the situation."

The potential sale of Man Utd and the takeover of the Premier League club by any interested party could also influence the negotiations between the organization, PSG, and Neymar himself.

If Man Utd leaves the run for Neymar, it's believed that Chelsea remain a viable option as they continue to assess Neymar's potential acquisition and are interested in the Brazil international too. L'Equipe also names Newcastle as another potential contender in the pursuit of the forward, although that's a little more dubious.

Only time will tell where Neymar's future lies and which club will secure his services in the coming seasons, but it's looking more and more likely that the Brazil superstar won't reach the final season of his deal at PSG.