• Premier League

Chelsea told to up ante for Neymar

ESPN staff
June 9, 2011
Neymar is a fixture in the Brazil squad despite his tender years © PA Photos
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Chelsea have been told that they will have to dig deep to the tune of £41 million if they are to prise Brazilian sensation Neymar away from Santos.

Neymar is one of the hottest properties in world football and has admirers all over Europe. Chelsea have long been in the frame and owner Roman Abramovich gave the green light to the deal last year, only to see the offer rebuffed.

Neymar's stock has continued to rise and that previous gambit from Stamford Bridge falls below Santos' valuation.

"Last year Santos received an offer of £32m from Chelsea and it was rejected," the player's agent Wagner Ribeiro told The Sun. "Now he would not leave for less than £41m."

Ribeiro is doing a decent job of talking up his client, likening him to world superstar Lionel Messi.

"Neymar is like Messi," he said. "Soon he will be the best in the world as he is a player like no other.

"He is just 19 but all the big clubs are following him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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