Paulinho hoping to sign for Barcelona this week

This Paulinho to Barcelona thing is starting to get scarily real now, not only does the Brazilian say he could sign this week, but Neymar has got in on the act and insists he would be welcome at Camp Nou. Gulp.

Let’s start off with Paulinho, who has spoken on the phone to Mundo Deportivo and again talked up a move and even said he will take a pay cut to come to Barca.

One thing that’s also worth mentioning is that the current transfer window in China closes on 14^th July, so if a deal is to be done it has be to be completed by then or it’s not going to happen (fingers crossed).

"I’m a little surprised that Guangzhou haven’t responded to Barca yet and it came out in the press here that they rejected the offer,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

“I haven’t talked to my president yet because we’re travelling to Beijing for a match, but I hope that if Barca come along, Guangzhou are flexible and can close the deal.

“It’s a unique opportunity for me, to be able to play for Barca, the best team in the world, and be surrounded by the best players in the world.

“I still have to talk to my president. I haven’t stopped thinking about Barca’s offer, and I’m hoping to resolve everything this week.

“I asked my agent to accelerate everything so that everything’s resolved this week because the transfer window is closing and Guangzhou will have time to sign my replacement.”

There’s plenty more, but you get the idea, Paulinho is keen to come, but a deal is far from done.

And, as Luis Felipe Scolari said a while back now, a deal will be difficult to complete, particularly if Guangzhou Evergrande want to sign a replacement.

Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Neymar has had his say and would be happy to see his compatriot at Camp Nou and feels he would be warmly welcomed.

"I hope Paulinho signs for Barça. He is a friend and a great player, everyone would receive him with open arms,” he told Sport.

“He's got great quality, everyone has seen what he can do when he plays for the national team."

Barcelona signing Paulinho still seems the more unlikeliest transfer ever, but given how the transfer window is going so far, and Barca's inability to land their targets, perhaps we needn't be overly concerned.