Neymar names Premier League clubs he would join as Al Hilal contract termination truth revealed
Neymar has previously named the four Premier League clubs he'd consider joining. The 32-year-old winger faces an increasingly uncertain future at Al Hilal, with his deal in the Middle East set to expire at the end of the season.
From January, foreign clubs will be eligible to open pre-contract talks with Neymar over a free transfer in the summer – unless he signs a new deal beforehand. If the Brazil international doesn't pen an extension, the Saudi Pro League outfit will be forced to make a difficult call.
Al Hilal will have to consider whether they'd rather risk losing Neymar for free, if talks prolong, or cut their losses and cash in during the upcoming transfer window. With time running out, he's been heavily linked with a return to Santos, where he burst onto the scene as one of the world's most exciting youngsters.
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A move to the Premier League has also been mooted, putting the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea on red alert. During his time at Barcelona, Neymar revealed the four clubs that he admires in the English top-flight.
"The Premier League is a championship that amazes me," said the Brazilian, as quoted by SportBible. "I like the playing style and the teams. And who knows? Someday, I would like to play [in] it, yes. I admire Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool - these are the teams that are always there fighting."
Back in June, Gilberto Silva claimed Neymar could be lured back to Europe, naming the Gunners as a potential suitor. Speaking to Bet365, the former Arsenal midfielder said: "I’d love to see Neymar in the Premier League with Arsenal.
"It would bring a lot of joy to fans and make the competition even more special. When you look at the Premier League, we want to see the best players in the world, and to have him around would be great. Let’s see. It’s not impossible that he could join Arsenal, why not."
While many would love to see Neymar test himself in the Premier League, Pini Zahavi has ruled out an exit from Al Hilal. Speaking to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian's representative said: "There are no talks ongoing for Neymar to leave Al-Hilal.
"He’s under contract and very happy there. Neymar’s father and me, we are the only people who can talk about Ney’s future. I don’t know where recent rumours are coming from."