Brazil international footballer Neymar has told friends Manchester United are ready to activate his release clause.
According to the Daily Record, the 25-year-old has informed those close to him that United are prepared to pay the £168.5m release clause in his current Barcelona contract.
Neymar’s current deal, which he signed last July, expires in 2021 but there are already hints he might not honour the agreement.
United, after the serious knee injury sustained by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be in the market for a forward and Neymar is the kind of marquee talent that could invigorate Jose Mourinho’s forward line.
According to the Record’s report, the Brazilian international wants an annual after-tax salary in the region of £21m a total which would exceed Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary at Real Madrid, something United are willing to meet.
Since joining the Catalan powerhouse from boyhood club Santos in 2013 he’s been an instrumental presence in their recent successes including winning a second historic treble in 2015.
Neymar has featured across 181 matches in all competitions scoring 100 goals and creating a further 77.
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