Barcelona look to land Neymar transfer by offering up Umtiti, Dembele and Todibo to PSG who want French talent
BARCELONA are looking to secure the return of Neymar by offering Paris Saint-Germain a trio of top French talent: Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele and Jean-Clair Todibo.
The LaLiga giants are hopeful of getting the Brazilian star, 28, back at the Nou Camp by tempting the Ligue 1 champions with some homegrown stars.
Reports in Spain claim it will be "impossible" for Barca to sign Neymar without throwing some of their own players into the mix, due to the financial ramifications of coronavirus.
Mundo Deportivo claim Barcelona were mulling over a £115million offer for the former Santos ace - plus Ivan Rakitic, Todibo and Dembele.
But with football finances being decimated by coronavirus. they may now be unable to reach that cash sum.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas revealed on Thursday that cancelling the season would cost the Spanish top flight £840m.
So instead, Barcelona may be tempted to offer PSG - who signed Neymar for a world-record £189m in 2017 - less money but more players, with Umtiti the latest star to be mentioned.
PSG are understood to be keen on bringing in an influx of French players this summer.
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Dembele is almost certain to quit Barca as he fights to land a spot in Euro 2020 - now set to take place in 2021.
The French winger has struggled to nail down a spot in the first-team ever since joining from Borussia Dortmund.
A close friend of Kylian Mbappe, Dembele knows he must move in order to gain the minutes he needs to break back into Didier Deschamps' set-up.
At PSG, he would be Neymar's replacement in their star-studded attacking trio and, when fit, would be a certainty to start.
Umtiti, too, has found a regular place in the Barcelona starting XI hard to come by - although his role has grown under current manager Quique Setien.
With Thiago Silva leaving the club at the end of the season, PSG would welcome a star addition to their defensive ranks.
Todibo is almost certain to relish a move back to France after failing to live up to the hype at Barca - playing just ten times this season.
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Meanwhile, Neymar's father revealed during a chat on Instagram Live that the Brazilian forward will "decide his own future".
Neymar Sr said: "He is always the one who chooses which path to take.
"We only work administratively: to make sure he has the best contract, to put him in the best home and have the best career management."