Neymar looks set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain as the clock ticks down on the French league's transfer window, which closes at midnight local time on Monday.

Much publicized talks with Barcelona have seemingly led to very little, in what appears to be much ado about nothing.

Two years after joining PSG for a world record $242 million, Neymar clearly wanted to leave. But the summer transfer saga between prospective buyer Barcelona and hard-nosed seller PSG turned into a "Will he or won't he?" soap opera in which Barca did most of the talking-with little effect.

It was not until Friday night, after PSG won 2-0 at Metz without Neymar, that PSG sporting director Leonardo effectively said a deal would almost certainly not be reached unless a dramatic turnaround happens in the few hours before the window closes.

"We always said that, if we were happy with an offer, we were ready to let him leave," Leonardo said. "That offer never arrived."

There were several reported offers for the Brazil star, including Barcelona sending winger Ousmane Dembele to PSG on loan as part of a cash-plus-players deal with Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic also joining PSG along with $143 million).

But Leonardo said Barcelona's Dembele offer came far too late on Aug 27, and by Saturday night speculation was winding down amid reports Neymar was resigned to staying.

Losing Neymar would have given PSG coach Thomas Tuchel precious little time to recruit a top-level replacement. It has understandably been a frustrating season so far for Tuchel, with Neymar seemingly physically ready to play after two injury-hit seasons yet apparently sidelined in case a move happened.

"Things in the world of football are crazy, anything can happen," Tuchel said recently with an air of resignation. "The coach doesn't decide everything in a big club with a big-name player like that."

It promises to be a difficult month for PSG, which will likely face Real Madrid in the first group game of the Champions League on Sept 18 before traveling to seven-time French champion Lyon four days later.

Neymar is available to face Lyon-if he stays-but is suspended for the first three games of the Champions League.

Edinson Cavani (hip) and Kylian Mbappe (thigh) are expected to be out for a few weeks and will probably miss both key matches.

PSG could find itself facing 13-time champion Madrid with an underwhelming strike force of Eric Maxim Choupou-Moting-who joined last season from Stoke Cityand Jese, who is back at PSG after loans to Las Palmas, Stoke and Real Betis produced just six goals in 43 matches.

Jese's appearance as a 90th-minute substitute on Friday against Metz was his first PSG appearance since scoring in a French Cup game in December 2016.

The 26-year-old Spaniard arrived from Madrid four years ago amid high expectations, but is effectively now PSG's fifth-choice forward.

PSG's injury list also includes defender Thilo Kehrer and midfielder Ander Herrera.

"I think it will be a difficult season, we have a lot of things to sort out," Leonardo said on Friday. "We're not going to say we're going to win the Champions League. Our ambitions haven't lessened, but we have problems to deal with first."

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