Barcelona transfer news LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest updates from the Nou Camp
Monday, August 26
- Barcelona are plotting a take-it-or-leave-it final offer for Neymar
- Lionel Messi and co. are surprised by Neymar’s silence
- Real Madrid think they can sign Neymar and announce his arrival by Thursday
- Ousmane Dembele has been told he needs to be ‘humble’ to reignite his Nou Camp career
- Juventus want to sign Ivan Rakitic
Final Neymar bid
Barcelona are currently preparing one last offer for Neymar, say Spanish channel El Chiringuito.
It is claimed the La Liga giants will submit a bid that includes a significant cash sum as well as Ousmane Dembele.
Barca have had several approaches already rejected, according to reports.
One was a loan-to-buy package with the summer Barca would pay PSG next summer falling well below the Parisians’ valuation of the forward.
Lionel Messi confusion
Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates are reportedly baffled as to Neymar’s public silence.
Dario Gol report that Messi and Luis Suarez are among those who have been in contact with the Brazilian, with whom they shared an excellent relationship on and off the pitch before he left for PSG in 2017.
It is claimed the pair, and others, have asked Neymar to come out and publicly reveal his desire to rejoin Barca.
But while the 27-year-old had dropped hints with his social media activity, he has remained quiet.
Neymar is reportedly said to prefer Barca but would be open to joining Real Madrid.
And the Catalan club seemingly need Neymar to try and force PSG into changing their stance on negotiations, with the French champions currently unwilling to talk about a deal.
Ousmane Dembele demand
Ousmane Dembele must be “humble” if he wants to play Barcelona again, says team-mate Clement Lenglet.
The Frenchman is believed to have angered the club’s hierarchy regarding how he acted after picking up a hamstring injury.
Barca were thought to be disappointed with the player’s lack of apparent professionalism.
“Dembele has to be humble in order to play again,” Lenglet explained.
“I’m not the one who decides whether he is punished or not.
“I’m his teammate and I prefer to see him on the pitch.”
Real Madrid announcement
But Spanish outlet Diario Gol claim that Real Madrid are readying an announcement later this week, because Los Blancos lead Barcelona in the race.
It is claimed that Madrid president Florentino Perez is convinced he will sign Neymar.
That is with PSG reportedly refusing to do business with Barcelona.
Sources close to Perez have suggested an announcement will be made on Thursday, the report adds.