Neymar ‘edges closer to Barcelona return on loan deal with option for permanent transfer’
NEYMAR has edged closer to a Barcelona return on a season-long loan deal with an option for a permanent transfer next summer.
Reports in Spain claim the Brazilian star, 27, is on the brink of heading "home" with Barca in "advanced talks" with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal.
Neymar has been fighting to get back to the Nou Camp all summer as his relationship with the Parisien club has reached breaking point.
And now Spanish outlet Sport claim the deal is all-but done, with Barcelona increasingly confident in landing their man.
Neymar left the Nou Camp for PSG in a world-record £198million deal in the summer of 2017.
But he has failed to fully settle in the French capital, often speaking of his desire to return to the La Liga champions.
While the transfer deadline in England is August 8, teams in France and Spain have until September 2.
NEYMAR vs MBAPPE
So both clubs have plenty of time to iron out the creases in the deal, after talks stalled earlier this summer.
Neymar's relationship with PSG chiefs is said to be broken beyond repair - with the Brazilian not even speaking to sporting director Leonardo, according to reports.
On Saturday, Neymar was shoved out of PSG's Trophee des Champions celebrations in China by team-mate Kylian Mbappe.
The pair appeared to have made up later, with an Instagram picture of the pair captioned: "My bro."
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But it may just be papering over the cracks, with a real underlying tension in their relationship.
Neymar has reportedly felt Mbappe threatens his position as PSG's star player.
Meanwhile, the youngster is said to want contract terms comparable to his colleague.