Barcelona to offer mega deal to Neymar after Manchester United interest

Barcelona are to offer Manchester United target Neymar a new contract and pay rise to end summer speculation and secure the forward's long-term future, Goal understands.

United made an enquiry about the Brazilian in their negotiations to try and sign Pedro, but Barca are not considering a sale and will make Neymar the club's best-paid player after Lionel Messi, who takes home around €22 million per year after tax, to tie the player down until 2020.

The 23-year-old's current contract expires in 2018 and former president Sandro Rosell promised the Brazilian he would be offered a new deal in 2016.

Rosell resigned in January last year due to controversy over how the player's move from Santos was paid for, but his successor Josep Maria Bartomeu - who took over and was elected again in July - is set to offer the renewal ahead of schedule after United's recent interest.

The Premier League side were willing to pay a world-record fee for the Brazilian, who is the second player to use interest from United to secure a bumper new deal this summer after Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos flirted with the Old Trafford outfit before committing to a renewal at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month.

Neymar, who helped Barca win the treble last season but has been sidelined so far this term with a bout of mumps, is happy in Catalunya and will now become the club's second-highest earner behind Messi, who takes home around €22 million per year after tax.

Talks between Neymar, who has scored 54 goals in 92 appearances since moving to Barca in the summer of 2013, and club are yet to get underway, but a meeting is to be arranged in the coming days.