Manchester United one of three clubs interested in Neymar

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Barcelona superstar Neymar as his agent claims three clubs are interested in the Brazilian.

The Brazilian superstar has a clause in his Barca contract that allows the forward to speak to any interested parties who meet his €200million (£157m) price tag.

And his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, claims there are thee clubs – reportedly Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid – who are ready to put the money up in a bid to lure the 24-year-old away from Catalonia.

Ribeiro said: “There are three big clubs in the world that want to sign Neymar and pay a clause of €200m to Barcelona.

“I cannot say more than this because it is sensistive. I can only guarantee that Neymar is happy at Barcelona.”

Neymar, who moved to Barcelona from Santos in 2013 for a reported £66million fee, has two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed at the Nou Camp in 2013.

The Mirror reports Neymar will reject interest from his three suitors and finally sign a new Barcelona deal in the coming weeks, although they do suggest he has three years left on his deal despite widespread reports suggesting the forward has just two years left.

United have long been linked with the player and his father confirmed in February there had been a £145million offer made last year.

“Manchester United is the side that offered €190m for Neymar,” he told radio station COPE.

“He has still two years left on his contract but you can all be calm as my son is so happy here [Barcelona].”

Neymar was “very happy and relaxed” at Barcelona, according to the club’s director of football Robert Fernandez in February.

“Neymar and his management are very happy and we are very relaxed,” Fernandez told Marca.

“The club stands by the player. These things happen and we shouldn’t dwell on it.

“The important thing is that he is happy and that’s something we can see in every game he plays.”

The fact that this latest news has been leaked by his agent suggests that the most likely outcome in this scenario is that Neymar signs a lucrative new deal in Catalonia with Barca railroaded into offering the player an improved package.