As Manchester United continue to be linked with everybody on the sun, it seems rather odd that links to Barcelona star Neymar have taken this long. Whether the mega move comes to fruition or not, it is perhaps the best deal Ed Woodward can possibly make.

As unlikely as a move for the brilliant Brazilian may be, securing his services would be a masterstroke. The Red Devils need a huge signing in order to reaffirm their status as a powerhouse, and signing one of the most marketable athletes in the world would surely go some way into helping propel them back to higher ground.

Yes, he is not as good as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, any fee for him is likely to be record breaking. However, a signing of this calibre would be worth every penny. For all his marketable qualities, the 23-year old is a phenomenal player, as well as a huge statement of intent should he come to Old Trafford.

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His move to Barcelona has seen him play alongside Lionel Messi for large parts of his time in Spain. With the Argentine in the side, it has been hard for Neymar to be the same player he is for his country, but there is no doubt Louis van Gaal would be getting a top class talent should he land his man. The former Santos prodigy has proven at international level what an excellent player he is, with an almost unbelievable strike rate of 44 goals in 65 games.

The Seleco’s World Cup challenge fell apart when their young captain suffered a cruel injury in the quarter finals, and his country capitulated. Perhaps the term ‘second fiddle’ is too harsh to describe his time with the Blaugrana, after all he was an integral part of the treble winning team.

In fact, his ability to play as a member of a team, rather than relying on individual brilliance, is a large part of his appeal. Where Gareth Bale is struggling to find a defined role in his Real Madrid team, Neymar has slotted nicely into the project put in place at the Camp Nou.

All of this is mere conjecture of course, until a deal is struck.

It’s growing ever clearer that Messi will never, ever be sold. Despite the odd rumour, it is just too unlikely. A homecoming for Cristiano Ronaldo carries plenty of emotion, though the figures aren’t likely to make sense with the prolific Portuguese having recently turned 30. Gareth Bale looks set to be the man to fill CR7’s shoes, so Neymar is the best signing United can hope for.

Perhaps the lure of Manchester United is not the same as a decade ago. Life in Barcelona may be just too good to give up for the young Brazilian star, though should United pull it off, the landscape of European football is likely to completely change.

United NEED this signing. Does Neymar?

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