Newcastle were ‘willing to honour’ €400m package for star – Player saw Magpies switch as ‘bleak’

Newcastle United were the only club to make an offer for Paris Saint Germain star Neymar in the summer.

That’s according to El Pais, who cover the situation today and the Magpies’ efforts to sign the Brazilian superstar.

They explain that PSG put Neymar on the market in the summer transfer window after becoming convinced that he was hindering the side’s growth.

However, there was a distinct lack of interest from the European market in the player with Newcastle the only club to make an offer.

They were the only club in the world ‘willing to honour’ the almost €400m that PSG owe Neymar for everything in his contract, which runs until 2027.

However, the Brazilian ‘dismissed Newcastle as bleak’ and was only curious about one other proposal, which came from Chelsea.

That deal would have seen him going on loan for a year and the Blues paying a quarter of his income, with PSG paying the rest.

Whether it was similar deal for Newcastle, or they were willing to pay outright isn’t made clear, but the wording from El Pais suggests that the Magpies were simply willing to pay whatever it took.

A loan deal to St James would have proven difficult anyway as French law prevents the bulk of an income being taxed in France if the services being paid for are provided to a company domiciled abroad.

Either way, Neymar killed the idea of the move to Newcastle early on, but they were willing to pay a worldly sum to sign him if he hadn’t.