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Paris Saint-Germain have made an initial approach in a stunning move to land Philippe Coutinho.

Despite concerns over Financial Fair Play restrictions, the Qatar-backed French club have indicated they are prepared to pay the Brazil star wages close to the world record sum Neymar receives in Paris.

While no approach yet has been made to Barcelona, PSG have taken soundings on the player's interest in a move, so soon after he made the switch to the Nou Camp – with his £140million transfer from Liverpool only completed last January.

The key to any bid will be a salary of around £500,000 a week, which amounts to an eye-watering £25m a year, or £3,000 a hour, on top of a potential transfer fee of £240m.

(Image: AFP)

PSG want to keep Neymar, and they have sounded out their star player over potential summer signings in a bid to keep him happy and keep him in France.

Coutinho is the player he has the closest relationship with. The pair grew up playing in Brazil junior level teams together, and share a close personal bond.

PSG know prising him out of Barcelona will be tough, with the player signed on a five year contract earlier this year, but if he is persuaded by the salary and the chance to link up with Neymar, they feel a deal can be done.

Coutinho took time to settle at the Nou Camp after leaving Liverpool, and even though he became a success by the end of the season as they lifted the La Liga trophy, he is still not seen by some as a marquee player, given his natural shyness.

(Image: REUTERS)

Making a big profit on their outlay so quickly could just persuade Barca to negotiate, with the midfielder thought to have a prohbitive buy-out clause of around £350m.

Neymar has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and even a return to Barcelona, but PSG are confident if they attract the right players he will be happy to stay.

They will complete the permanent transfer of Kylian Mbappe for £165m this summer, after initially taking him on a complex loan deal from Monaco, and have also expressed an interest in another Barca star, Luis Suarez.

While Coutinho wanted to move to Barca because of his wife's connections with the City, the chance to more than double his wages in Paris has given his advisors something to think about at least.