Barcelona transfer news LIVE: Neymar £153m decision in 24 hours, Instagram plea delivered

Barcelona transfer news LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest updates from the Nou Camp

Tuesday, August 27

• Barcelona have offered a deal worth £153m for Neymar

• PSG will give their answer in the next 24 hours

• Rivaldo has made a heartfelt plea to Barcelona fans

• Croatia international Ivan Rakitic is free to leave Barcelona

Don’t go!

PSG captain Thiago Silva has made a last-ditch plea to keep compatriot Neymar at the club.

Neymar, 27, is inching closer to a return to the Nou Camp but Silva believes he’s ‘indispensable’ for the French champions.

“Neymar is an indispensable player for any team, he was at Barca, he is for us,” Silva said to RMC.

“It’s a particular problem for a player with the club, we cannot get involved. But in my head, I hope he stays. Yes, I already told him. It’s hard to tell him all the time: ‘You stay, you stay…’

“I do not know exactly what’s going on between him and the club. I honestly hope that the transfer window is over soon because I cannot stand it anymore.”

‘We’re getting closer’

Barcelona are getting closer to re-signing PSG superstar Neymar.

That’s according to Barcelona director Javier Bordas after today’s showdown talks in Paris.

The Spanish champions sent a delegation including Bordas, Oscar Grau, Eric Abidal and Andre Cury to the French capital to discuss a deal for the 27-year-old.

“There’s still no agreement. We’re negotiating, we’re getting closer,” Bordas told reporters.

Pique messaging Neymar

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique contacted Neymar last night amid talk the Brazilian could return to the Nou Camp.

Pique has been competing at the PokerStars event in Barcelona and just 24 hours after helping his side to a 5-2 win over Real Betis, he scooped second place in a £22,555 (€25,000) buy-in event to take home a healthy sum of £318,364 (€352,950).

The former Manchester United centre-back has previously attended the event along with ex-team-mate Neymar.

But with the Brazilian attempting to force his way out of Paris Saint-Germain he was absent on this occasion.

“We have spoken yeah,” the 32-year-old added when asked if they also discussed Neymar’s potential transfer. “But obviously it is a private conversation.”

Eriksen staying at Spurs

Christian Eriksen has resigned himself to anther season with Tottenham.

The Denmark international made it clear that he would like a fresh challenge elsewhere at the beginning of the summer.

Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona were the three possible candidates to come knocking.

But the Daily Mail claim Tottenham’s playmaker now understands that he will have to stay in north London until his deal expires in June 2020.

Neymar deal could happen today!

Barcelona could wrap up a deal for Neymar today.

That’s the incredible claim from Goal, who report that Barcelona are confident of getting a deal over the line after face-to-face talks in Paris earlier this afternoon.

Goal claim the involvement of Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau was pivotal in discussions and the presence of the money man will likely see a deal ‘wrapped up swiftly.’

Goal also say that Neymar pleaded with PSG sporting director Leonardo on Monday to allow him to re-join the Catalan side.

PSG asked for £90million plus full-back Nelson Semedo – although the Spanish champions aren’t prepared to lose any of their current squad.

And It’s not thought the difference of opinion regarding payment will prevent the deal from being completed.

Neymar’s father

Barcelona have held talks with Neymar’s father.

That’s the claim from Spanish TV programme Jugones, who claim Barcelona representatives stopped to speak with him before their showdown talks in Paris.

Spanish newspaper AS claim the meeting with Neymar’s dad will ‘move the player closer still to a return to Camp Nou’.

Barcelona have offered £153million for the 27-year-old – paid in two instalments and PSG are expected to respond in the next 24 hours.

Latest Neymar proposal

Barcelona have submitted a fresh offer for Neymar.

That’s according to French newspaper Le Parisien, who claim Barcelona have offered a package worth £153million for the Brazilian forward.

The offer was put forward during a meeting between the two parties in Paris earlier this afternoon with agent Pini Zahavi and Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal in attendance.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi did NOT attend the meeting – leaving sporting director Leonardo to lead negotiations for the French champions.

Barcelona have proposed to pay the £153m fee in two instalments over two years – and PSG will give their answer in the next 24 hours.

Rivaldo’s Instagram plea

Barcelona legend Rivaldo has made a heartfelt plea to Barcelona white-collars to bring Neymar back to Camp Nou.

“We know everything that happened to @neymarjr,” the former striker said of his countryman on Instagram. “His departure from @fcbarcelona was wrong never he should have left one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“But he is eager to come back and assume what he did. May the president of @fcbarcelona and all of the board don’t let @neymarjr go to another club.

“I hope it gets resolves with @psg and he can get back to where he should never have left. Visca Barca.”

Ivan Rakitic future

Croatia international Ivan Rakitic is free to leave Barcelona.

That’s according to Spanish newspaper AS, who claim manager Ernesto Valverde will not block the midfielder’s departure.

The Catalan manager was believed to want to keep the 31-year-old for another season with Italian champions Juventus sniffing around.

Rakitic, who has two years left on his contract, is no longer considered first-choice and played just 45 minutes of Barcelona’s opening two La Liga fixtures.

Barcelona pip Celtic to deal

Barcelona have reportedly won the race to sign wonderkid Xavier Mbuyamba.

Dutch outlet FOK, the Catalans have beaten a host of top European clubs.

Celtic were keen on signing the star as they look to rebuild their defensive line.

The 17-year-old has made a real name for himself with his club side KVV Maastricht in the Dutch second tier.

Monreal heading to Spain

Nacho Monreal will join Real Sociedad this week.

The Sun claim Unai Emery and Arsenal will allow the left-back to leave the club with his contract set to expire in June 2020.

The 33-year-old will not be offered an extension beyond his current deal and has decided to join the La Liga outfit.

It’s said that Arsenal will demand a £3million fee for the Spanish defender.

Should have signed Bruno

Manchester United should have signed Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes over the summer.

That’s the opinion of former Red Devils striker Louis Saha, who believes the Portuguese playmaker is exactly what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are missing.

“Bruno Fernandes is a player of great technical quality who could be extremely decisive at various points in United’s game,” Saha told Portuguese newspaper Record.

“But more than that, he’s a born leader and that’s what Manchester United are missing this season. Only time can tell, but judging from everything that has happened… United made a mistake by not buying Bruno Fernandes and not signing a creative midfield player.”

As reported earlier, United’s loss could be Real Madrid’s gain with Zinedine Zidane’s side interested in the 24-year-old.

Real concerned

Zinedine Zidane fears Vinicius Junior is struggling to handle the pressure of playing for Real Madrid.

That’s according to Spanish newspaper Marca, who claim Zidane expects more from the 19-year-old talent.

Vinicius drew plaudits for his performances last season – scoring three times and providing 12 assists in 33 appearances.

However, Vinicius Junior hasn’t completed a 90-minute appearance under Zidane this term and the boss believes he’s being ‘weighed down’ by expectations.