Barcelona draws list for Neymar replacement

DELE ALLI is part of a three-man shortlist of Premier League stars Barcelona have drawn up to replace Neymar, according to reports.

The Brazil superstar, 25, stormed out of Barca training yesterday after a bust-up with new team-mate Nelson Semedo. Reports followed that Neymar has agreed a five-year deal with Paris Saint-Germainand the French giants could activate his £196MILLION release clause “in days”.

Barcelona are now making contingency plans in case a world-record transfer does indeed go ahead.

Tottenham midfielder Alli, Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho and Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard are the three Prem players The Mirror claim are on the Catalans’ list.

Alli, 21, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past two seasons following his move from MK Dons to Spurs.

The England midfielder was in April crowned PFA Young Player of the Year for the second season in a row.

Alli scored 23 goals in all competitions last term and helped Spurs to second place in the Prem. But Mauricio Pochettino has already ruled out selling any of his top players.

The Spurs boss says he has a close relationship with chairman Daniel Levy, who has assured him the club will NOT sell as they "don't need the money". Poch said: "The players that we want to keep, we will keep."

Coutinho, 25, is Barca's first choice, having been in their sights for a number of seasons now.

The Samba star is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to seal a move to the Nou Camp. But the Reds have rejected an opening bid of £72m, with Jurgen Klopp declaring: "We are not a selling club."

Chelsea ace Hazard, 26, is a long-term Real Madrid target but Barca have also earmarked him as a potential replacement for Neymar.

However, any hopes the La Liga giants have of landing him have already been squashed by the Blues.

Antonio Conte, speaking in Singapore ahead of Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Inter Milan, said: "I don’t know anything about this situation.

"In the past I read a lot of stories about Real Madrid and now there is Barcelona.

“This is the transfer market and we must understand this.

“Will Hazard stay with us? Yes. He is very happy to stay with us and to play for Chelsea.”

From The Sun