The signing of Barcelona star Neymar could propel Paris Saint-Germain into Champions League contention, says the Ligue 1 clubโs coach, Unai Emery.
Reports in the Brazil internationalโs homeland have claimed that Neymar is prepared to accept a contract offer from PSG, as the capital club intend to activate a โฌ222-million release clause in his Camp Nou contract.
Barca claimed to be โ200 per centโ certain that Neymar would remain in Spain, but it is claimed that the striker wishes to be the outright star in a team โ a status he is denied as part of the โMSNโ front line at Barca alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Neymar played a leading role in Barcaโs stunning comeback from 4-0 down to PSG in last seasonโs Champions League, but Emery says adding further star power to his squad could prevent such a collapse in the future.
โPSG wants the best players in the world, who are in the best clubs in the world,โ Emery told LโEquipe.
โIf we want to compete with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and win the Champions League, then PSG must have a player of the world top five. We are trying to get one signed this summer.โ
Zlatan Ibrahimovicโs departure for Manchester United a year ago stripped PSG of their biggest-name talent, and Emeryโs first season in charge was a disappointment as they lost out to Monacoโs burgeoning stars in Ligue 1.
And the Spanish coach says bringing a headline act to the Parc des Princes is a priority.
โNeymar belongs to the top five in the world,โ he said. โThe president and the club have been working for years to attract the best players.
โThe team, but also the fans, would be glad that there is a top five, six or seven player in addition to the already strong ones who are here.
โThis quest is not easy. Maybe weโll get there, maybe not.โ
โ This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za