Barcelona want to sign Neymar on loan?

Barcelona have reportedly launched a bid to sign Neymar on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this summer ahead of striking a permanent deal for the Brazilian next year.

The 27-year-old, who joined PSG for a world-record £198m fee in 2017, has made it clear that he wants to leave the Parc des Princes before the transfer window shuts.

PSG will only dispense with Neymar should an offer of £200m arrive, but Barcelona are unable to shell out such an amount after completing a £108m move for Antoine Griezmann earlier this summer.

According to the Evening Standard, Barcelona will consequently attempt to strike a loan deal for Neymar before making the deal permanent next summer.

The La Liga champions initially proposed a player-plus-cash deal involving Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho, but this offer was batted away by PSG.

Barcelona's vice-president Jordi Cardoner publicly insisted over the weekend that a deal for Neymar in this window was impossible, while PSG are said to be unenthusiastic about negotiating with the Catalans.