Given how many talented footballers are on display during this summer’s World Cup, it’s natural that a club of Manchester United’s size would be linked with a heap of transfer deals. We’ve already seen United linked with swoops for Germany’s Jerome Boateng, Belgium’s Toby Alderweireld and Russia’s Aleksandr Golovin. But if you felt as though this summer’s transfer window was missing a truly outlandish rumour, then the Daily Star via Don Balon have you covered.
The update suggests that United are willing to send wantaway Anthony Martial and £240m to Paris Saint Germain in exchange for the services of Neymar. The Brazilian, who opened his World Cup account with his country’s second goal during Friday’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica, is reportedly already looking to leave the French capital despite only arriving on a mammoth deal from Barcelona last summer, and Real Madrid has been touted as a potential destination as the club’s president Florentine Perez looks to bring another Galactico to the Bernabeu. Yet United, who along with Manchester City are one of the few clubs in world football who could meet Neymar’s asking price, are keen to bring the player to Old Trafford, and would be willing to send Anthony Martial in the opposite direction.
This report isn’t totally without merit; PSG do need to balance the books or risk another Financial Fair Play penalty, so realistically, it must be either Neymar or Julian Mbappe who must make way, but Old Trafford seems like an exceptionally unlikely destination for the player. Perhaps the French side might be interested in bringing Martial back to his home country once their finances have been settled, but it is difficult to envisage Neymar rocking up to Manchester, in his attempt to become a Balloon d’Or candidate. Best to file this one under ‘unlikely’.
