PSG superstar Neymar has started negotiations with the club over an extension to his £600,000-a-week contract, sporting director Leonardo has revealed.
The Brazilian superstar is said to be keen to tie himself down to new terms in the French capital after becoming more settled at the club, with Telefoot reporting that he was pushing for a fresh deal and even hoped to help scout players.
Neymar has long been linked with a return to former club Barcelona since he joined PSG in a world-record £220m deal in 2017 having initially struggled to settle and enduring a difficult relationship with the fans, before eventually getting into his groove and leading the team to last season's Champions League final.
And now Leonardo has confirmed that talks with the 28-year-old are now underway as the Ligue 1 giants bid to secure the future of their best players despite being hit by financial implications caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
'Talks are starting with Neymar,' he said, as reported by Paris-based journalist Jonathan Johnson. 'However, it is a question of timing. The idea of a contract extension is there.'
He admitted the club were struggling from 'financial losses' amid COVID-19, but revealed they were also kicking off contract discussions with top star such as Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler.
'It is difficult to keep all of the best players, even if that is the idea in order to continue this cycle,' he added.
'We are already counting our losses. Then we must consider contract extensions. After that, we can see if investment is possible. We lost 15-20 per cent last year. This year will be even higher. We will not be able to invest as much.'
'We are in direct contact with [Mbappe], that is the truth. PSG are in a complicated situation, but we will be the team of the next five years. We will be in that race.'
Neymar's current deal expires in the summer of 2022, and he is believed to be happy to accept the same terms on any new contract.
The Brazil international, who has two goals from four games this season, was tipped to return to the Nou Camp last summer and reform his partnership with Lionel Messi, but the club's failure to re-sign him reportedly provoked anger from the Argentine.
He was booed by PSG supporters following reports he was keen to take a pay cut to force his way out, but bounced back with a stellar campaign that saw him score 19 times as he inspired them to the Champions League final against Bayern.
The French champions' Qatari investors and board are expected to hold a summit to discuss club business during the international break, with contract extensions set to be on the agenda.