All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure has gotten off to the best possible start. They have been in superb form in both the Premier League and Champions League, having lost just once, to Nottingham Forest at Anfield. In the top flight, they are top of the table, on 18 points from seven games so far, having conceded the fewest number of goals in the competition, with just two.

This all comes off the back of a quiet transfer window, where the Reds made just one signing; winger Federico Chiesa joined the club from Juventus for just £12.5m. Despite a slow first transfer window in Slot’s first summer, they have already been linked with their first signing in 2025.

Liverpool target Bundesliga winger

The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund and Germany winger Karim Adeyemi. The 22-year-old has impressed so far this term for the German giants and could depart the club within the next 12 months.

According to a report from Sky in Germany, Liverpool are the side showing an early interest in the attacker. The report states that the Reds see him as a replacement for legendary winger Mohamed Salah.

However, they are not thought to be alone in this chase for Adeyemi. Sky in Germany state that several other clubs are interested, but do not go as far as naming those sides. At this stage, a price is unclear, although Spanish sources indicated that a fee of €50m (£42m) could be required.

Why Adeyemi would be a good signing

It has been a wonderful start to the new season for German international Adeyemi. He has played eight games in all competitions so far, scoring five goals and grabbing five assists in that time. That includes two goals and three assists in five Bundesliga appearances, and a Champions League hattrick against Celtic.

Adeyemi is a superb option to replace Salah, whose contract is up next season. Whilst he is one of their all-time great players, scoring 217 times and registering 94 assists in 359 games, there are some similarities between the pair.

The most obvious one is the fact that both are left-footed and whilst the German has predominantly played on the left wing for Dortmund, a switch to the right-hand side should not be too difficult to make, especially if Slot wants to keep the same dynamic as he has with Salah.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Adeyemi is an electric player, described as “devastating” by football analyst Ben Mattinson. Indeed, this is true given his pace; the Germany international is one of Europe’s quickest players. He has clocked in at 36.3km/h this season, the fifth-quickest player in the continent, as per Speeds Database.

The 22-year-old could also become the new version of former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane. The Senegalese attacker is one of the great Premier League players in the modern day, and scored 120 goals with 42 assists in 269 games in that famous red shirt.

Not only is he a quick, tricky winger, just like Adeyemi, but their career paths are also remarkably similar. Before moving to one of Europe’s big five leagues, with Mane joining Southampton and the German moving to Dortmund, they both played for Austrian outfit RB Salzburg. Both players had a fantastic record for the club during their time there.

Stat

Adeyemi

Mane

Games

94

87

Goals

33

45

Assists

24

32

G/A per game

0.6

0.88

Adeyemi would certainly hope to replicate Mane should he join Liverpool. Like with Salah, there are key similarities, including a likeness in profile and the fact they have both played for Salzburg. The youngster would surely love to have as good of a record as Mane in Red, and win major trophies, including the Premier League and the Champions League.

For ‘just’ £42m, this signing seems like it could be a masterstroke from Liverpool. Adeyemi is one of the most exciting talents in Europe and could become even better if he switches to Anfield.

£216m duo sign: Liverpool starting XI if Trent, Salah & Van Dijk all leave

Let’s take a look at this worst-case scenario, shall we?

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 9, 2024

Heading into 2025, Manchester City’s top concern is whether to replace injured superstar Rodri internally or with a fresh face in the transfer market, and the latest reports have revealed their opinion about Newcastle star Bruno Guimarães.

Man City plotting swoop for £51m-rated star as possible Rodri replacement

Man City are considering their options as they decide whether to replace Rodri or not.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 2, 2024 Rodri replacements wanted at the Etihad

The Blues have had to deal with missing Kevin de Bruyne for large parts of the seasons in years gone by, but they have never had to deal with the long-term absence of Rodri. His injury is a big blow to Pep Guardiola, as he is seen as the key man in what the team does from back to front.

Therefore, given what they are going to miss, City may look to try and find a replacement, and they have already been linked with a few options. Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella emerged as a potential transfer target for City earlier this week. As well as Barella, Atalanta’s Ederson is the latest name to be linked with a move to the Etihad.

But City may also find that a replacement for Rodri is already at the club, as they have Mateo Kovacic, who Guardiola is said to be a “big fan of” and has already played an important role this season. Meanwhile, there is also Rico Lewis, who can operate at full-back as well as in midfield, and the young man came in for huge praise from his manager after his performance in the Champions League on Tuesday night – and for helping to fill the void left by Rodri.

Guardiola said of Lewis: “The way he’s playing, no words. He does everything. Making an assist and defending, he’s strong. Of course he has to improve with things, but he’s playing at the highest level.”

It appears that Guardiola and City are keeping their options open when it comes to replacing Rodri, as they are now being linked with a new player.

Man City plotting transfer swoop on £71m-rated Newcastle United star

According to reports from Spain relayed by The Hard Tackle, Manchester City are interested in signing Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United. The Brazilian is seen as a potential replacement for Rodri, and his recent performances against the Blues have caught their attention.

The Blues played out a 1-1 draw with the Magpies last weekend, and Guimarães is said to have impressed City’s scouts and coaches, with his quality and leadership skills being on show. Meanwhile, his ability to “balance the midfield,” together with his endurance, makes him an “attractive” asset for City, as they look for a player with similar ability to Rodri.

Apps

115

Goals

17

Assists

17

However, if Bruno is going to leave Newcastle, it will not be for cheap, as the Magpies paid around 42 million euros, which is roughly £35 million, to bring him to England, and any offer will likely need to exceed that by a huge margin.

He is currently valued at 85 million euros, which is roughly £71 million, a significant rise from what Newcastle paid, and his £100m release clause expired in the summer. The 26-year-old is eight games away from 100 appearances in the Premier League and Newcastle will be hoping the games to come are all in a black and white shirt, as he is contracted to St. James’ Park until the summer of 2028.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ may have endured a difficult start to the season under Gary O’Neil, but they have a squad filled with plenty of talent.

The Old Gold face one last Premier League clash before the international break, as they travel to London to take on Brentford. A loss will see them continue to be rooted to the bottom of the table.

The pressure might not be on O’Neil just yet, but he needs to get a tune out of his talented squad sooner rather than later, otherwise his position could become untenable.

Several players in the first team squad have seen their market value increase in recent months, most notably Joao Gomes, who was signed for a bargain fee last year.

What Wolves paid to sign Joao Gomes

Julen Lopetegui took over the reins at Molineux following a dismal start to the 2022/23 season which saw Bruno Lage sacked. One of the first things the Spaniard did was bolster his squad.

This saw Gomes arrive from Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2023 for a fee in the region of £15m, which has since turned out to be a stunning piece of transfer business by the club, especially considering how much he is now worth…

Joao Gomes’ Wolves statistics

Last season, the midfielder missed just four Premier League games, scoring twice and grabbing an assist.

Previously hailed as “aggressive” and “quality” by his former teammate, Joao Moutinho, Gomes is one of the best players in the current Wolves side.

The 23-year-old has started every single top flight match this season, averaging an 88% pass success rate while also averaging over 50 touches per game, showcasing his ability to dictate the play.

Accurate passes

34.2

Tackles

3.7

Interceptions

0.8

Clearances

0.5

Total duels won

4.3

Possession lost

6.7

His tenacious side has also been on display too, as the South American has averaged an impressive 3.7 tackles per game, while he has also recovered 5.5 balls per match, proving he is effective defensively.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Gomes ranks in the top 1% for tackles per 90 (4.56) over the previous 365 days. This statistic indicates that his defensive work in the heart of the midfield is vital to making Wolves tick.

The best thing is, Gomes has yet to hit his peak yet, something which Wolves will hopefully get to see over the next couple of years.

There is no doubting the fact he is destined for bigger and brighter things though, therefore the Molineux faithful must enjoy him while they can, before he is potentially sold on for profit.

Joao Gomes’ market valuation at Wolves

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Gomes is now valued at €63m (£53m), which clearly suggests the Old Gold have hit the jackpot on the Brazilian gem, that’s for sure.

Indeed, this means he is worth a staggering 253% more than the £15m that was paid to secure his signature nearly two years ago.

If he continues his excellent performances, this valuation could continue to rise even further, ensuring the Molineux side make a substantial profit on him in the future.

It must be said, that while Lopetegui didn’t leave a lasting not overly positive legacy at Molineux, the signing of Gomes was certainly something of a masterstroke.

Wolves could have their new Pedro Neto in "fantastic" Molineux star

O’Neil must replace Neto by unleashing Wolves’ “fantastic” ace.

ByConnor Holden Oct 4, 2024

A ball hasn’t even been in the 2023/24 season and mooted Chelsea transfer target Harry Maguire has been dealt a monumental blow in his faltering career.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has stripped the Englishman ahead of the upcoming campaign. He surprisingly retained the armband last term, despite only making eight Premier League starts, and the decision comes with United willing to listen to offers for the 30-year-old dud.

Maguire tweeted in response to the news and said:

“After discussions with the manager today he has informed me he is changing captain. He outlined his reasons to me and whilst I’m personally extremely disappointed, I will continue to give my all every time I wear the shirt.

“I’ve done everything I possibly could to help United be successful – on and off the field. I will always be grateful to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for first giving me the responsibility and I wish whoever now takes it on every success and they will have my full support.”

He has handled the affair classily, but it is a damming reflection of what the manager thinks of him, and it begs the question if there is any way back for Maguire at United.

Surely it signals the end of his four-year stay at Old Trafford and the Blues have now been named as a possible suitor.

What’s the latest on Harry Maguire to Chelsea?

According to The Sun, Maguire is 'angry, shocked and upset' at ten Hag’s decision, with the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and West Ham all reportedly waiting in the wings to secure his signature.

The Guardian has revealed that the Irons have made a loan proposal for the defender, with a possible option to buy, but it is unlikely to progress.

This is because Maguire received a healthy salary increase due to the club’s qualification for the Champions League, which has massively complicated the deal.

It is understood that the centre-back will only leave for what he considers the right club, and he still might stay and fight for his place. The Sun also revealed that the Red Devils are demanding around £50m, though it's expected to be whittled down to around £30m.

Should Chelsea sign Harry Maguire?

The alarm bells probably began to ring for ten Hag at the beginning of last season.

The Red Devils were dominated by Graham Potter’s free-flowing Brighton on the opening day of the season before they suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat in the next outing against Brentford – two games in which Maguire started.

His lack of pace, composure, technical ability, and confidence have all contributed to a steady decline.

This was noted by former United man Paul Parker, who said:

“Harry Maguire is not able to hold a line. He can’t do that. He wants to defend deep, which is why he ideally should move to a club that is playing with a deep line. Of course, he can't play for a club in the top 10. He might be able to play for one of the teams below that if they are defending deep. He can’t play for a progressive team.”

This indictment serves as perfect reasoning as to why Mauricio Pochettino should refrain from buying Maguire.

Domestically, the £190k-per-week man registered the lowest average rating (6.59) of any United defender and drastically slipped down the pecking order.

It seems that Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are firmly cemented as the first-choice centre-back partnership. When either of those are unavailable or rested, Victor Lindelof is the main backup with ten Hag even opting to deploy Luke Shaw in an unfavoured, central position.

Once described as “woeful” by Lianne Sanderson, the former Leicester City star simply isn’t up to Chelsea's standard. If Poch does launch a move for him, then he may well be making his first transfer blunder at Stamford Bridge, given he evidence above.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are eyeing up Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as the defender prepares for a move away from Craven Cottage this summer, according to Dean Jones.

Is Adarabioyo leaving Fulham?

Marco Silva's Fulham were one of the surprise stories of last season in the Premier League. The newly-promoted Cottagers were supposed to struggle on their top-flight return but instead shone right from the outset, managing to secure a 10th-placed finish.

One of the standout stars of the Cottagers' campaign was Adarabioyo, a former Manchester City academy graduate who has blossomed since arriving permanently at Fulham in 2020.

The 25-year-old has attracted attention from other clubs in the Premier League as a result of his consistent performances and growing wealth of experience.

The 6ft5 colossus has reportedly rejected the opportunity to sign a new contract with Fulham, with his current deal expiring in June 2024. As a result of Adarabioyo's uncertain future at the Cottage, the likes of Inter and Monaco have been sniffing around and expressing interest in bringing the England youth international on board.

However, they are not alone. Tottenham have hinted at exploring a move for the defender, while it is now reported by Dean Jones that Wolves are upping their interest in the player.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones stated: "Wolves are going to market in search of at least one centre-back, maybe two depending on how the Kilman situation plays out. There is quite a lot of excitement around the rebuild that Lopetegui is looking towards and the foundations need to be in place soon so that the side has a solid look to it for next season.

"The defensive record was a bit of a mess last term, they conceded 14 goals in their final five games of last season and they are looking for some good value players now, ideally with Premier League experience."

He added: "One player that I’ve heard there is a bit of interest in is Tosin Adarabioyo at Fulham. Wolves actually first looked at him a couple of years ago but the player is currently looking for a new club.

"Ideally he is looking for a step up, he wants to join a Tottenham-sized club and those links are already there, but if his top options don’t come through soon then this could become an interesting alternative. It could be one to look out for down the road."

With Adarabioyo keen to take the next step in his career, the centre-back may not be too enthused by a move to Molineux given Fulham finished three places above Wolves last term.

A move to Spurs or Inter may be his priority this summer, especially given Fulham's rather low £13m valuation of the defender.

Wolves do need to bolster a defence that conceded 58 goals last season, especially given they have lost Nathan Collins to Brentford and Conor Coady has joined Leicester City.

Wolves have only added former Northampton Town goalkeeper Tom King to their squad on a free transfer, while also making obligatory loan deals for Matheus Cunha and Boubacar Traore permanent.

How did Adarabioyo fare last season?

Adarabioyo boasted a solid 6.89 Sofascore rating in the Premier League last season in the 11th sternest defence in the division.

Naturally, the giant centre-back uses his advanced height and physicality to win aerial battles but is less comfortable when balls are played in behind him.

In the 25 games he played in the league, the defender ranked in the top 6% for clearances per 90 among centre-backs (averaging 6.04), as well as boasting a 69.4% success rate in aerial duels.

One potential issue for bigger clubs looking at Adarabioyo is his passing accuracy, ranking in the bottom 36% of centre-backs. While he has a better accuracy when it comes to longer passing distances and ranks fairly high in progressive passes per 90, he may not be the prime candidate for a team wanting to play out from defence.

Liverpool have wasted no time in getting their midfield rebuild started with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining this summer but now a fresh update has emerged on another potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Marcos Llorente?

According to reports coming out of Spain, Liverpool are competing with Manchester United for the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente.

As per the report, it is claimed that the two Premier League giants and bitter rivals are both interested in snapping up Llorente's services ahead of next season and it would take an offer of €60m (£51m) for Atletico to part ways with their player this summer.

Is Marcos Llorente a good player?

Jurgen Klopp will be thrilled with the business that has already been completed at Anfield, however, there is definitely still work to be done and potential moves to be made during the summer transfer window to ensure Liverpool can get back to competing at the highest level.

Following the departures of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner it has paved the way for a full refresh in midfield, and it is not only the recent who Klopp will need to consider replacing in the near future.

Both Thiago Alcantara and club captain Jordan Henderson are well into their 30s at this point and reaching the latter stages of their careers, so if an opportunity arises to bring in worthy successors for the duo it should be taken.

As a result, the signing of Llorente could be a fantastic piece of business for Liverpool and would not only provide them with an experienced winner but an ideal heir for Henderson.

As per FBref, the 28-year-old – who has become an "incredible footballer" in the eyes football talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive carries, progressive passes received and touches, as well as ranking in the top 25% for shot-creating actions too. Such a play style means he's a far more mobile asset than Henderson.

As it happens, though, when comparing the Spaniard's output last season to the Liverpool skipper, Llorente offered many similarities in key attributes to Henderson including pass completion rate (80.9% v 83%), shot-creating actions per 90 (3.17 v 3.13), tackles and interceptions (49 v 53), successful take-ons (44.4% v 52.2%) and crosses (44 v 45), despite playing 13 fewer league games.

Not only that, Llorente is an incredibly versatile all-action talent who could be the perfect utility player for Klopp as the German coach tries to navigate the best way to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold; who has become a revelation in a new role that has seen him play as an inverted right-back for Liverpool and also deployed successfully in a midfield three for England in recent months.

The 18-cap Spain international is experienced in several positions including defensive, central, attacking and right midfield, as well as also making 11 appearances at right-back too, demonstrating a similar diverse skill-set to that of Milner which would be a huge asset and attractive prospect to Klopp.

With that being said, a move for Llorente would certainly provide the club with an experienced and worthy heir to succeed Henderson, so if FSG could sanction a move this summer it could further improve Liverpool's midfield presence.

The summer transfer window is well underway and Glasgow Rangers have been incredibly busy ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign.

Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Abdallah Sima, and Sam Lammers have all joined the club to bolster the squad from last season, while the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield, and Ryan Kent have moved on from Ibrox.

The Daily Record have also claimed that the club are closing in on the signings of Jose Cifuentes, from LAFC, and Cyriel Dessers, from Cremonese, to take the number of new arrivals to seven.

However, Michael Beale could also add to his first-team options by promoting one of the B-Team stars over to the senior group if they impress during pre-season, with Lewis Mayo, Ben Williamson, Cole McKinnon, Kieran Wright, and Arron Lyall all reportedly joining the manager's squad for training this week.

Who is Arron Lyall?

The 19-year-old, who is part of the group of young players attempting to catch the eye of the boss, is an exciting winger who predominantly plays on the right but is also capable of playing on the left or through the middle.

Rangers have been linked with interest in signing a new wide player, with LAFC's Kwadwo Opoku a reported €4.8m (£4.1m) transfer target, and Beale could now save the club millions by unleashing Lyall as a first-team player, preventing the need for a fresh addition from elsewhere.

The teenage wizard, who was described as "exciting" by ex-boss Neil McCann, enjoyed a prolific 2022/23 campaign as he plundered 15 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions, including 13 in 34 Lowland League outings.

Meanwhile, Antonio Colak (14) and James Tavernier (16) were the only senior stars with more league goals, while Malik Tillman was the highest-scoring midfielder with ten.

This suggests that the speed demon, whose "terrific" burst of pace was hailed by journalist Jordan Campbell, has the potential to be an excellent wide option for Beale if he can translate his impressive B-Team form over to the Premiership.

He did enough to convince the manager to hand him his debut for Rangers off the bench against Hibernian at the end of last season, which suggests that the 42-year-old tactician views the goalscoring winger as a prospect with the quality to play first-team football.

It's an exciting time to be part of the toward line at Ibrox right now, something that will be boosted by Dessers' arrival. He found the net on ten occasions last term and the 28-year-old, who is now in his prime, could be one of the players to immediately take Lyall under his wing and develop him as a footballer.

It is unlikely the teen will get too many minutes immediately but it could be the start of a fresh new partnership at Ibrox.

Beale must start by offering Lyall enough opportunities to impress in pre-season with a view to increasing his role in the senior side next term, if he can handle the step up to playing at that level on a regular basis.

Such an eventuality could subsequently prevent any need for Rangers to sign a new winger.

Leeds United are reportedly not close to appointing a new manager despite speculation claiming Daniel Farke has agreed on Elland Road terms.

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

The Whites are still looking to bring in a new long-term manager under new owners the 49ers Enterprises. However, the club appear to be waiting for the EFL to give the green light on a takeover before any official announcement is made on a new manager.

Time is ticking, though, with a number of Leeds’ first-team players set to report back for pre-season ahead of the new Championship season over the coming days.

There have been plenty of rumours about Farke making the move to Yorkshire, with The Daily Mail claiming on Thursday lunchtime that the German has now agreed on terms with the Whites and has even been shown around the Thorp Arch training complex following a lengthy interview process.

However, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Bourne, Leeds are not close to appointing a new manager, saying on Thursday evening:

“Sources close to Leeds suggesting to talkSPORT they're not close with an appointment of a head coach yet. Daniel Farke is being heavily linked with the role today.”

What other managers have been linked with Leeds?

It has been a lengthy process on the search for a new manager after Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties following a temporary stint, and Farke isn’t the only name to have been linked with a move to Leeds.

Reports earlier this month claimed that former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and ex-Bournemouth boss Scott Parker were also among the leading candidates. However, it looks as if Vieira is one of the favourites to take over at French side Strasbourg, so a move to Elland Road may not be on the cards.

Speculation has gone quiet with Parker, but on the face of things, you could argue that Farke is the standout option for the three mentioned.

Vieira doesn’t have any experience of the Championship, although Parker has two promotions to the Premier League on his CV with Bournemouth and Fulham, one of which came via the playoffs.

Farke plays a 4-2-3-1 system and has racked up a whopping 251 points in 138 games in the Championship with Norwich City. He led the Canaries to two titles in the second tier, so he could look to make it three with Leeds, but by the looks of it, a move may not be as advanced as some believe.

Chelsea are reportedly leading the chase to sign goalkeeper Mike Maignan from AC Milan this summer as Mauricio Pochettino aims to significantly strengthen his squad.

What’s the latest on Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the Blues are one of the sides at the top of the list to sign Maignan this summer, and any potential move could cost the club around €70m (£60m).

The ‘keeper is refusing to sign a new contract with the Serie A side due to Paolo Maldini’s controversial departure from the Rossoneri recently, and this could allow the Stamford Bridge outfit to make a move for the Frenchman.

Could Mike Maignan improve Chelsea?

Pochettino looks set to undergo a full overhaul of the Chelsea squad during the transfer window, with the likes of Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante at least partly out the door, Todd Boehly is also keen on moving on plenty more, with Edouard Mendy another player who could leave, as a move to Saudi Arabia is being touted.

This would leave Pochettino with just Kepa Arrizabalaga as the sole choice for the No 1 jersey and while he kept nine clean sheets and conceded 33 goals across 29 Premier League matches, he has been dubbed a “liability” previously by former Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot, and perhaps a new direction will be taken ahead of Pochettino’s debut campaign.

Maignan enjoyed a stellar 2022/23 season, conceding only 27 goals from 29 appearances across all competitions, while also keeping ten clean sheets during those matches.

The “impressive” titan – as so dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – has proven his ability across the big five European leagues during the previous 365 days, ranking in the top 11% for goals against per 90 (0.93) and percentage of penalty kicks saved (50%).

In contrast, the Chelsea shot-stopper ranks in just the top 24% for goals against per 90 (1.09), while he also hasn’t made a penalty save during the last 365 days, ranking him in the lowest 77% across Europe’s big five leagues. This indicates that Maignan could be an upgrade for Pochettino.

The 27-year-old could also give the new manager an abundance of leadership qualities from the back, having marshalled a side which lost eight times last season – the joint second-lowest in Serie A. This is something which was sorely lacking at the Blues last term as they struggled to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

Indeed, France manager Didier Deschamps lavished praise upon Maignan following a game against the Republic of Ireland in March, saying: “Mike has great qualities, his stature and his mentality. He saved a penalty last Friday, but this was more significant. I never had any doubts about him. He is a great leader and a great player.”

The eight-cap star could finally be the leader that Chelsea require in order to challenge for trophies once again, and following his impressive campaign, where he nearly led Milan to a Champions League final, a move to England certainly wouldn’t faze him in the slightest.

According to recent reports in the media, Neymar is pushing hard to return to Barcelona this summer and Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to sanction his exit.

What is the latest Neymar transfer news?

Back in August of 2017, the Brazilian superstar left La Liga for Ligue 1 in a world-record transfer move which cost €222m (£200m) after his buyout clause was met.

While he has won plenty with PSG – including five league titles – it could be argued that his career has been on a bit of a downward trajectory since arriving in France.

After all, he hasn't been able to win the Ballon d'Or, nor has he lifted the Champions League or won a major trophy with Brazil since leaving Barca.

Now aged 31, it appears he could be ready for a new step in his career with reports from Spain (via Sport) suggesting he wants to follow Lionel Messi out the door this summer.

Indeed, the article explains that Neymar is keen to move back to Barcelona and hopes to use Pini Zahavi – who was key in his initial Camp Nou exit – as a way of getting back to La Liga, with the Israeli representative a "great friend" of the Barca president, Joan Laporta.

How much does Neymar get paid?

What's more, it's also noted in the report that PSG are open to selling the player as he is on such big wages, tied to a contract that still runs until June 30, 2025.

Although he scored an impressive 18 goals and picked 17 assists last term, he was only fit to play 29 games in total – and missed the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich with injury too.

This combined with his £941k-per-week wages, shows why his current side may be happy enough to sell this summer.

Of course, though, it also means an awful lot of money will be required to sign him and it remains unclear if Barca could afford to do that.

After all, they still have major concerns thanks to La Liga's Financial Fair Play rules, with a wage bill that stood at around €655m [£582m] when reported by Daily Mail in March.

Finally, the Sport article also mentions that manager Xavi has already made it clear that Neymar is not among his priorities, and he could only consider the deal once a few signings such as a midfielder and a defender have also been made.