How Neymar’s PSG future could hinge on Liverpool clash — as Real Madrid prepare £500m deal
NEYMAR'S Paris Saint-Germain future could hinge on them beating Liverpool next week — with Real Madrid waiting patiently to pounce with a £500million deal.
The French giants entertain Jurgen Klopp's side on Wednesday facing the prospect of a humiliating Champions League exit if they lose.
And being dumped out of Europe before the season has even reached the half way stage could set the wheels in motion for Real to make their move.
Spanish title has lifted the lid on the prospect of a £265million deal which would see Neymar returning to La Liga.
There have been suggestions former club Barcelona would still be interested in taking the Brazilian back to the Nou Camp two years after he quit.
But Barca lack the financial resources to stump up such a massive fee and then come up with wages of £44m-a-year on top of that.
Real do have the ability to find the money, and in president Florentino Perez they have someone who has wanted to sign Neymar for the past ten years.
For the time being the defending European champions have remained happy to stay in the background, unwilling to push hard for the forward.
But that could change if PSG find themselves crashing out in the group stages, leaving the 26-year-old stuck in a French league which has become all too easy for the side.
Neymar is already thought to be unsettled with life in Paris and open to the prospect of making the switch back to Spain.
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And that feeling is expected to grow should he be left facing the prospect of Europa League football next year instead of being on the big stage.
New Uefa rules this season allow players to play in the Champions League for a new club they join in January, even if they have played in the competition already.
That leaves PSG vulnerable to their star player being targeted, and if Neymar gives any indication he wants out then Real will be quick to pounce.
To make matters worse for the French champions, they still don't know if Neymar and Kylian Mbappe will be fit to face Liverpool.
Both are struggling with injuries suffered on international duty, and could miss what is the biggest match of their season so far.