Real Madrid have reportedly identified Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham and Manchester City's Joao Cancelo as their three primary targets in a €300million plan.

The Spanish giants have been pursuing 19-year-old Bellingham for months, while 22-year-old Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of world football's breakout prospects during his first Serie A season.

Cancelo's future with City is also up in the air after Pep Guardiola allowed him to be loaned to Bayern Munich, with the German club hesitant to make the move permanent.

They could be three of the biggest names to move in the upcoming transfer window, and Madrid are said to want to bring them all to LaLiga instead of resuming the chase for Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.

TOP STORY – MADRID PLAN AMBITIOUS MOVE FOR WORLD-CLASS TRIO

According to Fichajes.net, Madrid will try to secure all three of their top targets for a combined fee in the range of €300m.

The report states they are comfortable with the asking price of Kvaratskhelia, which is said to be a minimum of €100m, while they expect Liverpool to rival them in a €150m chase for Bellingham.

Cancelo has a €70m (£61.5m) buy clause in his loan deal, which is said to be more palatable to Madrid than Bayern, as they view him as a long-term solution at right-back.

ROUND-UP

– Football Insider is reporting Manchester United remain keen on 26-year-old Inter defender Denzel Dumfries, and that the Italian club's financial situation could tempt them to accept a bid in the region of €50m (£44m).

– According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter and Milan are enamoured with 21-year-old Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, who is among Ligue 1's top scorers this season during a loan stint with Reims.

– Manchester United are concerned with the prospect of a drawn-out pursuit of Tottenham striker Harry Kane and will instead prioritise Napoli's Victor Osimhen or Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, per ESPN.

– Journalist Ekrem Konur is reporting Atletico Madrid plan to offer Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino a two-year deal with an option for a third year.

– According to The Athletic, 31-year-old Neymar wants to finish his career at Paris Saint-Germain and has no interest in leaving.

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last-16 exit has prompted speculation about a squad overhaul.

Neymar's future in the French capital is in doubt, while pressure has ramped up on head coach Christophe Galtier.

PSG will be an interesting watch during the next transfer window as they show their hand on their future direction.

TOP STORY – PSG PLOT MOVES FOR SILVA AND DEMBELE

Paris Saint-Germain are plotting off-season moves to sign Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele , according to Diario Sport.

The Parisiens are monitoring Dembele's status at the Blaugrana with only one year left on his contract, with a €50million release clause.

Barcelona have been linked with Silva but may struggle to facilitate that deal given €65m asking price, with PSG better placed to table that figure.

The report claims PSG's move for Dembele hinges on Neymar and whether he stays in Paris.

  
ROUND-UP

– AS reports Real Madrid are still angling to sign PSG's Kylian Mbappe after a long courtship. The report claims Los Blancos want to sign him as a free agent when his contract expires in 2024 and have prioritised him over Man City's Erling Haaland .

– Tottenham are ready to launch a move to sign Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford on a cut-price deal, according to The Sun. The report claims Pickford has a clause in his new Everton deal, signed last month, if they are relegated although the Toffees are understood to want around £35m.

– PSG are planning a bid for Villarreal defender Pau Torres in the next transfer window, reports The Mirror. Manchester United opted against signing him last year.

– Barcelona 's top priority in the off-season is to sign Athletic Bilbao defender Inigo Martinez , according to Sport.

– Calciomercato claims Milan have cooled their interest in Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita as his wage demands are beyond what they can offer.

– Bayern Munich continue to monitor the status of Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic , reports Calciomercato.

Neymar underwent successful surgery on his season-ending ankle injury on Friday, Paris Saint-Germain announced.

The Brazilian has been out of action since being carried off in a thrilling 4-3 Ligue 1 victory over Lille last month.

The 31-year-old had been enjoying his most productive season for PSG since the 2018-19 campaign, equalling a tally of 34 direct goal involvements (18 goals, 16 assists) in all competitions – joint second-highest in his PSG career, behind the 44 in his debut season.

PSG have won both of their Ligue 1 games in Neymar's absence to move eight points clear at the top of the table, though they were eliminated from the Champions League following a 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Head coach Christophe Galtier confirmed earlier this week that Neymar would miss the remainder of the season, with the forward expected to be sidelined for three to four months.

A club statement issued on Friday read: "Neymar underwent surgery late Friday morning at ASPETAR Hospital in Doha, by Professors Pieter D'Hooghe, James Calder and Rodrigo Lasmar.

"The intervention went very well. The player will now follow a rest and care protocol."

For Paris Saint-Germain, every new season brings a "this is it" feeling with regards to their Champions League hopes.

It's been the club's obsession ever since the Qatari state poured in their petrodollars back in 2011, and after a few years of building up a head of steam domestically, European success has been the chief aim.

Each pre-season sees the arrivals of new superstars, most years bring a new coach who has the ownership group's vain ambitions thrust upon their shoulders. The faces change, the goal doesn't – and neither, until now, has the ultimate destination.

Here we are in March 2023 and PSG still haven't won Europe's top prize. They find themselves 1-0 down after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich, meaning they need to win at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

It feels quite early in the season for such a talented group of players to find themselves in a "do or die" position, but that's the harsh reality.

This kind of situation is arguably the whole point of their vast spending, though: having the world-beaters who can almost single-handedly get you out of such a predicament. After all, a 1-0 deficit is hardly insurmountable.

Obviously, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi will be looked to as the keys to survival and progression. PSG's Qatari overlords might even go as far as saying they were brought to Paris to win the Champions League: that's their job.

Of course, their time together at the club has been blighted by speculation of a fractured relationship, partly due – apparently – to Messi being so close to Neymar, who Mbappe is also said to have become distanced from.

But we're not here to indulge those interested in the kind of juvenile nonsense pedalled by clickbait merchants who're obsessed with the pantomime vilification of anyone/anything.

In fact, there is plenty of evidence that Mbappe and Messi genuinely "get" each other on the pitch. Their 21 goal combinations since the start of last season is nine more than any other pairing across the top five leagues.

PSG's excellent 3-0 win over Marseille in Le Classique at the end of February was a prime example of them clearly having rapport. Both of Mbappe's goals were set up by Messi; Messi's goal was set up by Mbappe.

For the first, Messi spotted the devastating run of Mbappe, who applied a clinical finish. They then switched roles for 2-0, the World Cup winner left with a tap-in from his partner's brilliant low cross.

They finished Marseille off in style. Messi's scooped pass released Mbappe, and he emphatically volleyed home from a tight angle.

Granted, it takes more than one match to show a telepathic on-pitch relationship has formed. But them switching it on as a duo shouldn't be sniffed at, particularly in the Classique.

Some might argue the absence of Neymar helped, and will continue to be a positive for the rest of the season.

Neymar will not play again this term due to an ankle injury, in what has seemingly become par for the course for the Brazilian in Paris. By the end of the 2022-23 campaign, he'll have played just 48 per cent of his possible minutes in Ligue 1 since joining, and the highest proportion of league minutes he'll have racked up in a single season will be 54.4 per cent.

But does it matter?

Some will fairly point out Neymar's 34 goal involvements across all competitions this season is bettered only by Mbappe (37) and Erling Haaland (38), and level with Messi. This is true, but does he really carry the same importance as the other two? And, as a trio, are they really as lethal as you might expect them to be?

Since Messi joined, PSG actually have a better win percentage when one of their star trio isn't starting (69.4 per cent, compared to 64.7 per cent). Admittedly that's not a significant difference, but over the same period their win rate when Neymar isn't in the starting XI is 75.9 per cent and 63 per cent when he is.

By comparison, when one of Mbappe or Messi drop out of the line-up, PSG's win percentage falls from 72.9 to 60.

For all his talents, many don't think Neymar will be missed. Former France international Christophe Dugarry is among them.

"I'm happy for PSG that Neymar is injured. I think this is an incredible opportunity for [Christophe] Galtier. The team is much more balanced with five defenders and Mbappe and Messi up front," Dugarry told RMC Sport. 

"I can't watch [Neymar] anymore, I can't stand him anymore. I can't stand his dribbling and that attitude. I don't want to see him on the field anymore, I'm tired."

Proving Neymar's absence makes PSG better is arguably impossible, but Dugarry's comments do strike a chord when he speaks of balance – even Galtier accepts they will be more balanced without the Brazilian.

Galtier does not think it makes them a better team, but that balance is potentially more important at the moment, especially in Europe.

PSG are the only side left in the Champions League who haven't kept a clean sheet in the competition this season, and in all competitions they have only managed two shutouts since the World Cup.

Of course, the situation is slightly more nuanced than being a case of "getting rid of Neymar equals a good defence", but Julian Nagelsmann pinpointed PSG's strength.

"What we need is to prevent them from using their pace," he said. "In Ligue 1, they often defend deep and play on the counter-attack. If you give their attackers too much space and they can unleash their footballing qualities, it's incredibly difficult to defend."

When it comes to pace and speed on the attack, is Neymar really essential for that?

Maybe he was the missing piece all these years. Perhaps, had Neymar not been injured so often in the second half of the season, they'd have won the Champions League by now.

But given how much of the past six years Neymar's missed (52 per cent if you're counting…), it would almost be fitting if PSG went on to win the Champions League without him.

Christophe Galtier accepts Paris Saint-Germain's attack is more balanced without Neymar but refuted suggestions his side are stronger without the injured forward.

PSG confirmed ahead of Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg with Bayern Munich that Neymar will miss the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.

The 31-year-old has been directly involved in 34 goals this term, which is behind only team-mate Kylian Mbappe (37) and Erling Haaland (38) across Europe's top five leagues.

Despite these impressive figures, former France striker Christophe Dugarry said he is "happy" Neymar is injured as Mbappe and Lionel Messi work better as a partnership.

While Galtier does not necessarily disagree with that assessment, the PSG head coach cannot see how being without a player boasting 18 goals this season can be a positive.

"I've read the debate around Neymar. It's unfortunate for him and a handicap for the team," Galtier said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference.

"Look at his goals and assists this season. When I read that it could be a good thing for us, no! The player is seriously injured. 

"He's always been professional since I've been here, though he did have a difficult period after the World Cup.

"Is the team better balanced? Yes. But is it better like that? Having Neymar in the squad is an additional asset for us to score goals."

PSG travel to the Allianz Arena aiming to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last month's first leg in Paris, courtesy of Kingsley Coman's 53rd-minute goal.

On the six previous occasions PSG have lost the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie, they have advanced just once – against Borussia Dortmund in the 2019-20 campaign.

PSG may be without Neymar for the trip to Bavaria, but Kylian Mbappe has regained full fitness, and sharpness, since returning from a calf injury during the second half of the first leg.

Mbappe has 30 goals in 30 games this season – only Manchester City striker Haaland can better that tally across Europe's top five leagues, with 33 goals in 34 appearances.

The France forward has scored in his two previous Champions League away games at Bayern, and team-mate Marco Verratti is hoping Mbappe can prove the difference in this latest encounter. 

"In matches like this, we need everyone," Verratti said. "Mbappe is a player who is always present in the big matches.

"Kylian is Kylian. We are lucky to have him here. He has a great personality – we need players like him. We have confidence as we know nothing has been lost.

"There is a lot of pressure on us because something big is on the line. But we always like having that pressure here and I'm sure the team will give everything tomorrow."

For all the focus on PSG's attackers, they are the only side left in the Champions League yet to have kept a clean sheet in this season's competition.

However, asked if his side are too open defensively to go all the way in the competition, Galtier said: "Every system has it flaws and its strong points.

"In the last few games we've conceded goals. We have to fix that and we are working on it together.

"We talk about this a lot. There are flaws with us, but also with our opponent. We need to make sure we're vigilant and also daring in the way we attack."

Galtier also confirmed Achraf Hakimi is in line to feature against Bayern after recovering from injury, despite last week being charged with rape by French prosecutors.

Morocco defender Hakimi firmly denies the accusations and is confident of clearing his name.

Julian Nagelsmann says Neymar's absence for Paris Saint-Germain "does not change much" in terms of Bayern Munich's approach heading into Wednesday's showdown.

Bayern welcome PSG to the Allianz Arena boasting a 1-0 advantage from last month's Champions League last-16 first leg, courtesy of Kingsley Coman's second-half goal.

Neymar failed to have much of an impact in the reverse fixture, whereas Mbappe caused Bayern's defenders plenty of problems in the final 30 minutes after being brought on.

The France international, returning from a thigh injury ahead of schedule, forced Yann Sommer into a good save and had a couple of goals ruled out for offside.

With Mbappe now fit enough to play a full part, Nagelsmann believes PSG will cope just fine without Neymar, who has been ruled out for the season with an ankle injury.

"It doesn't change much," Nagelsmann said at Tuesday's pre-match press conference when asked about Neymar being ruled out. 

"Mbappe plays from the start – that changes something. PSG have a clear idea with Lionel Messi and Mbappe up front. We have to prevent passes to Messi. 

"We also have to be patient. We know we can't defend every attack, so Yann will also have a part to play in goal."

Mbappe has 30 goals in 30 games this season – only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland can better that tally across Europe's top five leagues, with 33 goals in 34 games.

The 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner is aiming to become the first ever player to score in three successive visits to Bayern in the Champions League.

He claimed last week that PSG remain favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, despite being a goal down, but Bayern attacker Thomas Muller does not agree.

"Everyone can assess that for themselves," he said. "We won the first leg 1-0; I think that's an advantage. 

"But a one-goal deficit can always be caught up in football. I understand his opinion, he has a lot of self-confidence.

"He is a player who poses a threat to us. You have to think about how to prevent this. It's still a team sport. We have to block the passes and be courageous in duels."

While there is no questioning the quality of Messi and Mbappe in PSG's attack, they have struggled defensively at times this season.

Indeed, the Ligue 1 leaders are the only side left in the Champions League yet to keep a clean sheet in the competition this campaign.

"Their defence isn't a weakness," Nagelsmann said. "We have developed an idea for tomorrow in terms of how we can hurt them.

"We don't want to focus just on defending our lead; we want to also score goals ourselves."

Bayern have been eliminated just twice on the 22 previous occasions they have won the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie.

Christophe Dugarry is "happy" for Paris Saint-Germain that Neymar is injured as his absence provides an "incredible opportunity" for head coach Christophe Galtier. 

PSG on Monday revealed Neymar is out for the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.

The Brazil forward did the damage during a 4-3 win over Lille last month and is expected to be sidelined for up to four months.

Neymar has scored 18 goals and provided 17 assists for the Ligue 1 leaders this season, but former France striker Dugarry believes they are better off with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi as an attacking duo.

He told RMC Sport: "I'm happy for PSG that Neymar is injured. I think this is an incredible opportunity for Galtier.

"The team is much more balanced with five defenders and Mbappe and Messi up front."

A straight-talking Dugarry does not want to see former Barcelona man Neymar play for PSG again.

He added: "I can't see him anymore, I can't stand him anymore. I can't stand his dribbling and that attitude. I don't want to see him on the field anymore, I'm tired!"

Dugarry would be much more concerned for PSG if either Messi or Mbappe were unavailable.

He said: "Hugo Ekitike has shown that he is still not at the desired level and the other attackers are also mediocre."

PSG will attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit when they face Bayern Munich in a Champions League round of 16 second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Neymar will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery, Paris Saint-Germain announced on Monday.

The Brazilian has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury during the 4-3 victory over Lille in February.

Head coach Christophe Galtier confirmed last week that Neymar would remain absent for the Ligue 1 clash against Nantes, a 4-2 win, as well as Wednesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Bayern Munich.

It has now been announced that a return this season is not on the cards, with Neymar out of action for the next three to four months.

A statement read: "Neymar Jr has featured several episodes of right ankle instability in recent years.

"Following his last sprain contracted on February 20, the Paris Saint-Germain medical staff recommended a ligament repair operation, in order to avoid a major risk of recurrence. All the experts consulted confirmed this need.

"This surgery will be performed in the coming days at ASPETAR Hospital in Doha.

"A delay of three to four months is expected before his return to collective training."

Neymar had been enjoying his most productive season for PSG since the 2018-19 campaign, equalling a tally of 34 direct goal involvements (18 goals, 16 assists) in all competitions – joint second-highest in his PSG career, behind the 44 in his debut season.

Neymar will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to ankle surgery, Paris Saint-Germain announced on Monday.

The Brazilian has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury during the 4-3 victory over Lille in February.

Head coach Christophe Galtier confirmed last week that Neymar would remain absent for the Ligue 1 clash against Nantes, a 4-2 win, as well as Wednesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Bayern Munich.

It has now been announced that a return this season is not on the cards, with Neymar out of action for the next three to four months.

A statement read: "Neymar Jr has featured several episodes of right ankle instability in recent years.

"Following his last sprain contracted on February 20, the Paris Saint-Germain medical staff recommended a ligament repair operation, in order to avoid a major risk of recurrence. All the experts consulted confirmed this need.

"This surgery will be performed in the coming days at ASPETAR Hospital in Doha.

"A delay of three to four months is expected before his return to collective training."

Neymar had been enjoying his most productive season for PSG since the 2018-19 campaign, equalling a tally of 34 direct goal involvements (18 goals, 16 assists) in all competitions – joint second-highest in his PSG career, behind the 44 in his debut season.

Kylian Mbappe surpassed Edinson Cavani as Paris Saint-Germain's all-time leading goalscorer after netting against Nantes on Saturday.

Uruguayan striker Cavani scored 200 for the club, taking the record from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Mbappe is now out in front.

The 24-year-old joined from Monaco on an initial loan deal in 2017 before his stay was made permanent for €180million – he remains the second-most expensive player of all time.

He scored 21 goals in his debut campaign but then reached an altogether different level in the 2018-19 season, scoring 33 in Ligue 1 alone.

Mbappe has continued on a similar trajectory ever since, with his 201st goal coming after just 247 matches – Cavani's 200 came from 301 appearances.

Although Mbappe's form was deemed to have waned – aside from his five-goal haul against sixth-tier Pays de Cassel in the Coupe de France – after the World Cup, he has shown his importance to the club by reaching such a landmark.

He arrived at PSG during the same transfer window as Neymar, while the 2021 signing of Lionel Messi brought another big name aiming to be the club's main man.

Yet Mbappe has been comfortably the most consistent of the trio, regularly spurring PSG on to success in the absence of the often-injured Neymar prior to Messi's arrival.

Mbappe is also closing in on Cavani's status as PSG's record Ligue 1 goalscorer, with the current Valencia player having scored 138 in France's top tier – his former team-mate is just two behind.

It seems doubtful that Mbappe will stick around long enough to take the all-time record for Ligue 1 goals, however.

Former Monaco, Reims, Tours and Toulon forward Delio Onnis holds the record with 299.

To surpass him, Mbappe would likely need to spend several more years in Ligue 1, and that seems unlikely given the almost continuous links with the likes of Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were a joy to play alongside but Pablo Sarabia nevertheless wanted to leave Paris Saint-Germain.

Sarabia swapped hopes of a Ligue 1 title and push for Champions League glory with PSG for a relegation battle in the Premier League with Wolves in January.

The Spain international reunited with Julen Lopetegui, who he had previously worked under in La Roja's under-21s team.

Lopetegui has lifted Wolves off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone, though ahead of Saturday's meeting with Tottenham they have failed to win their last three games.

Sarabia is enjoying life in England, however, despite no longer playing alongside three of the world's best players.

In an interview with The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said: "It was amazing to play with Messi, Mbappe and Neymar.

"It was a very good experience, but for me the most crucial thing is to feel important in the team."

Sarabia also suggested the unity at Wolves is greater than that of PSG, adding: "I prefer to play in another team to feel that unity, to be part of it, to be a member of the team and of a family, rather than just an addition of individuals.

"I was not happy not to play. It's very difficult to play considering the level of PSG players, so I made the decision to come here. In my career I have been through a lot of difficult moments, but now I want to enjoy it.

"I feel that at this moment, I'm in the prime of my career."

Sarabia has scored once in six league appearances for Wolves, with five of those coming as starts.

He started only three Ligue 1 games for PSG this term prior to his January transfer, having spent last season on loan at Sporting CP, where he netted 21 goals.

Neymar, Gabriel Martinelli and Bruno Guimaraes are among the notable absentees from the 23-man Brazil squad for the friendly in Morocco later this month.

Neymar tied the Selecao all-time scoring record of the late Pele (77) with his goal against Croatia as Brazil were eliminated in the World Cup quarter-finals in December.

An ankle injury sustained in Paris Saint-Germain's recent win against Lille will keep him from beating that record in Morocco though.

With head coach Tite stepping down after that defeat in Qatar, interim Brazil boss Ramon Menezes will take charge of the friendly and has selected nine new faces, including Chelsea's Andrey Santos – back on loan at Vasco da Gama – Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Athletico Paranaense striker Vitor Roque.

United duo Casemiro and Antony are joined by other Premier League players Ederson, Emerson Royal, Renan Lodi, Lucas Paqueta and Richarlison in the squad, though there is no place for Liverpool trio Alisson, Fabinho or Roberto Firmino.

Brazil take on World Cup semi-finalists Morocco on March 25 at Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier.

Brazil squad to face Morocco: Ederson (Manchester City), Mycael (Athletico Paranaense), Weverton (Palmeiras); Arthur (America MG), Emerson Royal (Tottenham), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest), Roger Ibanez (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Robert Renan (Zenit); Andre (Fluminense), Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama), Casemiro (Manchester United), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham), Raphael Veiga (Palmeiras); Antony (Manchester United), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Rony (Palmeiras), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Vitor Roque (Athletico Paranaense).

Neymar is expected to miss the second leg of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich as a result of his ankle injury, head coach Christophe Galtier has revealed.

Neymar was taken off on a stretcher during PSG's thrilling 4-3 win against Lille on February 19, with scans subsequently revealing he had suffered ankle ligament damage.

The Brazil international's injury immediately threw his participation against Bayern into doubt, with PSG needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit after losing the first leg at the Parc des Princes – a game that saw fellow attacking star Kylian Mbappe reduced to the role of substitute through injury.  

PSG's fears were confirmed as Galtier previewed Saturday's Ligue 1 meeting with Nantes, saying: "In the next two games, we won't have Neymar available. 

"I think he will miss out against Bayern Munich."

A medical update issued by the club, meanwhile, said Neymar was continuing his rehabilitation and would be reassessed on Monday – two days before PSG's trip to Germany.

Neymar's absence did not hamper PSG last time out, as Mbappe and Lionel Messi starred in a 3-0 thrashing of Marseille to move the Ligue 1 leaders eight points clear at the summit.

That win saw Mbappe move level with PSG's all-time record scorer Edinson Cavani with 200 goals for the club, while Messi claimed the 700th senior goal of his club career.

Having exchanged assists for all three goals, Messi and Mbappe have now combined for 10 goals in Ligue 1 this season, which is the most in the division and four more than Neymar and Mbappe.

However, Galtier dismissed suggestions PSG were a more balanced side with Neymar sidelined, saying: "Our block is much more compact, denser. 

"With the absence of Neymar, instead of having two midfielders, we will be with three midfielders and two attackers.

"To tell you that Neymar's absence is trivial… no. It's a detrimental absence for us."

While Wednesday's trip to Bayern is viewed as make-or-break for PSG's season, Galtier knows Nantes – who have won two of their last four league games against the Parisians – will provide a stern test.

"The most important game is the one that's coming. Our squad is weakened by suspensions and injuries, we have to make our way in the league," he said.

"I hope the players don't have the game against Bayern on Wednesday in a corner of their heads. It's important to have a third consecutive victory in the league." 

Neymar has suffered ankle ligament damage and could be a doubt for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich.

The 31-year-old was taken off on a stretcher during PSG's thrilling 4-3 win over Lille on Sunday.

Having teed up Kylian Mbappe's opener and then scored PSG's second goal, Neymar went over on his right ankle in a challenge with Benjamin Andre early in the second half.

PSG subsequently confirmed Neymar had not suffered a fracture but instead a sprain.

On Tuesday, they announced further scans had indicated ligament damage, and Neymar must now wait until next week for a firmer timescale to be put on his recovery.

According to the United Kingdom's National Health Service, the standard recovery time for such an injury is between six and eight weeks, which would rule him out of the second leg of PSG's last-16 tie with Bayern on March 8.

PSG, who face Marseille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, head to Munich trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

Neymar did not suffer a fractured ankle in Paris Saint-Germain's win over Lille, but will have to wait on the results of further scans to see if he has ligament damage.

The 31-year-old was taken off on a stretcher early in the second half at Parc des Princes on Sunday after sustaining an injury to his right ankle.

PSG went on to win 4-3 thanks to Lionel Messi's stunning stoppage-time free-kick, but Neymar's injury presents cause for concern, especially looking ahead to the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich on March 8.

Christophe Galtier suggested Neymar, who set up Kylian Mbappe's opener and scored PSG's second goal, had sprained his ankle and that has now been confirmed by PSG.

However, further scans will be required to determine if there are any issues with the ligaments.

"Victim of a sprained ankle during the match against Lille, Neymar underwent an MRI [on Sunday]," a PSG medical update read.

"This did not reveal a fracture. A new ligament assessment will be carried out in 48 hours."

Nuno Mendes also went off injured against Lille, with the Portugal international suffering "a small inflammation of the internal ligament of the right knee".

Like Neymar, the full-back will undergo more tests in the coming days to confirm the extent of the damage.