Chelsea won't be able to sign Brazilian superstar Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain as he is too expensive even for the Todd Boehly's big-spending Blues, it has been claimed.
Neymar, 31, has been linked with a move away from the Parc des Princes despite impressing for PSG this season.
The Brazil international has managed 17 goals and 16 assists in just 28 games for the French club this term.
However, PSG's recent slump has cast doubt over his long-term future in the French capital.
Advert
Meanwhile, his choice of lifestyle away from the pitch has also come under scrutiny this week.
Neymar competed in a poker event in Paris on Wednesday evening and was seen in a McDonald's restaurant, despite Kylian Mbappe publicly stating that PSG's players needed to "eat and sleep well" after their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Could Neymar move to the Premier League?
It has only added to the speculation surrounding the future of Neymar, who is currently under contract with PSG until 2025.
A report from 90min claims that while Ligue 1 club are not rushing to offload the Brazilian, they are understood to be open to his possible departure at the end of the season.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle are said to have been contacted by intermediaries over a potential deal for the forward.
"Neymar's name is also understood to have been mentioned during a recent meeting between Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly and PSG counterpart Nasser Al-Khelaifi, which had been scheduled to discuss other topics," the report added.
However, Bild journalist Christian Falk claims Neymar is too expensive even for Chelsea and has played down the chances of him moving to the Premier League.
Falk told Caught Offside: "I was reading an article from Le Parisien and they were writing about a secret meeting over Neymar, which involved Todd Boehly and Chelsea and a potential deal to bring him to London.
"I have to disappoint Chelsea fans – I've been told there's nothing in this, it's not true. It's too expensive. It's a nice idea but it’s not going to happen.
"PSG would like to find a solution but, at the moment, there's no available suitor who can pay a salary of nearly €37m (£33m) a year."
Topics: Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Football, Transfers, Neymar, Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1
Rory O'Callaghan