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Man Utd blown away: Barcelona plan staggering £174m clause just as Red Devils prepare bid
MANCHESTER UNITED will have to stump up a staggering £174million to sign Brazil international Neymar as Barcelona plan to increase the forward's release clause.
Manchester United may not pay up if Barca set Neymar's clause at €220m
United are understood to be keen on landing Neymar for a world record transfer fee this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain also interested.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim the Red Devils are happy to trigger his current £144m release clause and were preparing a bid for the end of the season.
But Barca are determined to hold on to the 24-year-old and are drawing up a mega contract to keep him out of United's clutches.
According to the report, Barca will offer Neymar a deal that is the second biggest in the club's history, behind Lionel Messi.
Messi currently has a £197m release clause.
Neymar's new deal would lock him down to Barca until 2021 and effectively ruin United's hopes of signing him after they had a bid for the player rejected last year.
Mundo Deportivo claim Barca want to spot Man Utd signing Neymar
Neymar - Spotlight on
United have already missed out on two targets, with Bayern Munich today confirming the arrivals of Renato Sanches from Benfica and Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels.
Officials at Old Trafford are working hard on transfers despite the uncertainty hanging over manager Louis van Gaal's future.
Express Sport understands Jose Mourinho - sacked by Chelsea back in December - is in line to replace Van Gaal should the Dutchman leave the club this summer.
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