Chelsea hero Gustavo Poyet has warned Thomas Tuchel against a move for Neymar this summer as he believes the PSG star would struggle to adapt to the Premier League.
The Brazilian has been linked with a move away from the French giants this summer, with the Blues mooted as a possible landing spot.
Compatriot Thiago Silva urged the forward to join him at Stamford Bridge earlier this week, after PSG ‘opened the door’ to his exit.
“He has to go to Chelsea. If it happens, it will be for the best. He needs no comments,” Silva said.
“So far, I don’t know anything, but I hope it comes to fruition.”
But Poyet has warned his former side against the move, instead urging them to “prioritise” a move for Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona.
“Chelsea shouldn’t try to sign Neymar,” Poyet told Lord Ping. “I think he will stay at PSG. I think after [Kylian] Mbappe announced he was staying and with their ambition to try and win the Champions League, I can’t see him leaving.
“I don’t think he would adapt quickly to English football with how physical it is. I can’t see him joining Chelsea.”
Chelsea have been linked with a number of attacking talents, and are currently deep into talks with Raphinha, having agreed a £55m fee with Leeds, and Raheem Sterling, who is thought to be keen on a switch to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City.
But Poyet believes the Blues should be moving for Dembele, who is available on a free transfer having rebuffed multiple new contract offers from Barcelona.
Poyet added: “It looks like the priority for Chelsea is a wide player and that shows that maybe the players who played there last season didn’t perform at the level he wanted.
“Chelsea should prioritise Dembele but the club will be having doubts about his fitness. Barcelona paid a lot of money for him and didn’t use him as much as expected.
“We all know what he can do and how important he could be, but there’s a question mark around him.”
