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It’s almost as if managers have forgotten to give their defenders the pre-season talk about avoiding reckless challenges, because, after all, it is only a friendly game.We’ve seen Lisandro Martinez go flying into poor challenges twice now. The first time was at Bukayo Saka’s expense, who was lucky to avoid injury as Arsenal were defeated 2-0 by Manchester United. The second time then came against Real Madrid, as Jude Bellingham was recklessly taken out, sparking the midfielder’s fume.Now, it seems as though Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo has caught the recklessness bug, leaving no prisoners against Arsenal, as he wiped out Gabriel Jesus in a needless challenge.The forward fortunately managed to avoid injury, but there’s no doubt that he was left unpleased, with nothing really riding on the game to warrant such aggression from the Barca man.

Gabriel Jesus wiped out by Ronald Araujo

In Araujo’s defence, the ball was there to be won. It just didn’t need to be won with a dangerously high sliding challenge, which Jesus upwards in a way we didn’t even know was possible.

Jesus immediately looked towards the referee, feeling rightly aggrieved by the challenge, as Araujo strolled off as if he had just committed the tackle of the season.

The challenge summed up a frantic affair, as Arsenal ran out 5-3 winners. And after the match, Xavi ironically complained (via Tribuna) “Arsenal’s intensity wasn’t normal. Too many fouls for a friendly game.”

The Gunners initially found themselves a goal down, courtesy of Robert Lewandowski, before Bukayo Saka equalised.

It was then the turn of Raphinha Kai Havertz to get on the scoresheet, making it 2-2.

Arsenal ran away with it in the second half, however, with a Leandro Trossard brace handing them a 4-2 lead. Mikel Arteta’s side were forced to refocus by Ferran Torres’ late goal, but Fabio Vieira soon sealed the 5-3 victory.

How have Arsenal performed in pre-season?

Arsenal have impressed at times during pre-season, enjoying victories over MLS All-Stars and Barcelona, whilst also drawing against FC Nurnberg in their first pre-season game.

Arteta will be disappointed with his side’s 2-0 defeat against Premier League rivals Manchester United, but is unlikely to look too much into what was ultimately a pre-season game, and only that.

Summer signing Havertz has shown glimpses of what he is capable of this summer, too, scoring twice, including most recently against Barcelona.

Speaking after scoring his first Arsenal goal, against MLS All-Stars, Havertz told Sky Sports, via The Metro: “I think he was giving me this message [of support] from the first second when I spoke to him.

“The first time, I felt the support straight away. And I think this is very important for me as a player. He just gives the trust to me and I hopefully can give it back.”

The summer switch to North London could finally get the German going in the Premier League, after struggling to ever make a consistent impact at Chelsea.

The Gunners are certainly primed and ready to mount yet another title challenge in England’s top flight, perhaps going one better than last season by sealing the silverware in the coming year.

Chelsea bringing in Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo alongside Ajax star Mohammed Kudus this summer to work alongside Enzo Fernandez could formulate a 'dynamic' midfield trio at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest on Chelsea's pursuit of Caicedo and Kudus?

As per The Guardian, Chelsea and Brighton have stalled in talks over the possibility of Caicedo moving to west London after the Seagulls rejected an £80 million bid for his services.

The report states that Brighton value the Ecuador international at around £100 million and Roberto De Zerbi's men are said to be more open for wiggle room if Chelsea compromise on their stance regarding Levi Colwill, who is a target for Brighton this summer and spent last term on loan at the Amex Stadium.

In terms of Kudus, Football Insider have claimed that Chelsea are closing in on agreeing personal terms with the Ghanaian playmaker and will put 'finishing touches' to a deal to sign him for around £40 million.

Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic departing Chelsea have pushed the arrival of an attack-minded midfielder up the priority list for Mauricio Pochettino.

Kudus, who has been hailed as a "star boy", is also a keen goalscorer and notched 18 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances across all competitions for Ajax last term, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that Caicedo, Kudus and Fernandez could form a midfield three that would be feared by opposing sides in the Premier League.

Brown told FFC: "The Chelsea side of it is a lot more interesting because I think in an ideal world they would like him [Kudus] in addition to Caicedo, which would obviously be a lot of money to outlay. The thought of Enzo, Kudus and Caicedo all playing in the same midfield is really exciting for Chelsea fans. The three of them look quite dynamic, they're very young, they've got their best years ahead of them, I think Chelsea would be set for years if they were able to do that kind of business this window. It doesn't look at the moment like Kudus is close to leaving his club, so whoever might go for him needs to step up that chase over the next couple of weeks."

What next for Chelsea?

Player sales have been an important part of Chelsea's operation to recoup funds to spend in the transfer market and will continue to strongly impact their window between now and the close of play.

Conor Gallagher has been linked with a move to West Ham United in recent times and the Hammers have seen a bid worth £40 million booted out for his services, according to BBC Sport.

In terms of potential incomings, RMC Sport via talkSPORT claim that the Blues have submitted a £39 million bid for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who is said to have reached 'an agreement in principle' over a move to Stamford Bridge.

Montpellier striker Elye Wahi is another name that Chelsea are keen to bring to west London and it is said that they are closing in on signing the 20-year-old, who will then be loaned to their satellite club Strasbourg to continue his development, as per The Daily Mail.

Everton could be set to bolster their attack in one fell swoop, finally handing Sean Dyche the perfect offensive platform to secure safety with ease.

Is Arnaut Danjuma joining on loan?

The first of which is all but confirmed, as Arnaut Danjuma reportedly completed his medical to join the club just yesterday. Given his dramatic change of heart in January, fans will likely be cautious about getting excited until he is properly announced. The deal will be a straight loan move for the full campaign.

However, some alternative fresh news comes courtesy of Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, who took to Twitter to detail the future of Watford whiz Ismaila Sarr.

Whilst Olympique de Marseille have already sent the first bid, it is noted further down in his Tweet that there is also: "Interest from Everton".

The Senegalese speedster is expected to cost just €20m (£17m) this summer, after years of speculation regarding a potential exit from Vicarage Road.

How many goals has Ismaila Sarr scored?

The long-running interest in the 25-year-old is well-founded, given how the dynamic forward has starred in both the Premier League and the Championship. His acquisition alongside Danjuma would add something which the Toffees have been desperately lacking for some time now: serious pace.

After all, journalist Rob Blanchette had detailed the various reasons why even Manchester United should have considered making a move back in 2020, writing:

"Why do I like Watford’s Ismaila Sarr? He fits Ole's #MUFC build. He's young, hungry and electric. When you watch him, you feel there's a top-class player in him."

Such fiendish speed paired with technical precision makes him a true threat for every full-back he comes across, with last season only serving to emphasise that once again.

A tally of ten goals and six assists from all across the front line showcases his versatility, suggesting that even if Dominic Calvert-Lewin was to endure another injury-hit term, the natural winger would be able to deputise well.

These figures come following his debut year in England, in which he notched 11 goal contributions in the top flight despite falling to relegation. In the season following he would then record 23 goal contributions in the Championship alone.

There are few wide men who have boasted such consistently impressive goalscoring figures despite his side often struggling, with his total career goals having now reached 57.

Whilst Dyche will hope that Danjuma can post these kinds of figures in his quest to bolster a relegation-threatened squad, the last term has been tough for the Dutchman, who has seen his chances dwindle. Just ten LaLiga appearances led to his expulsion to Tottenham Hotspur, where he would only start once in the Premier League before returning to Spain.

However, during the 2021/22 season he would thrive for Villarreal, playing a key role in their remarkable Champions League run which culminated in a semi-final exit to Liverpool.

Posting 16 goals and four assists across all competitions, pundit Kevin Phillips even branded him a "nightmare for defenders" at the time. However, he earned that success whilst supplemented by additional attacking firepower. Samuel Chukwueze and Jeremy Pino offered that extra threat to take the shine off the 26-year-old, allowing him space to thrive.

Perhaps placing Sarr and Danjuma in the same side could actually help them both explode, surpassing their current peaks due to the headache their respective presence would cause for defenders. Whoever they choose to double up on would only free up the space for their counterpart to instead wreak havoc.

As such, this move could be the one that returns the former AFC Bournemouth star to his best and one that helps propel Everton to safety.

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.