Transfer Talk: PSG won’t offer Messi a new deal amid suspension drama
Julien Laurens says Lionel Messi’s trip to Saudi Arabia and subsequent suspension by PSG is a result of the club putting an end to their leniency with star players. (1:32)
The transfer window may be closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Following Paris Saint-Germain‘s decision to suspend Lionel Messi for two weeks, L’Equipe reports that the club will not renew the star’s contract.
Sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that PSG handed Messi the suspension as a punishment for missing training to take a trip to Saudi Arabia without permission.
The Argentina international will not play or train during his suspension period and also will not be paid, but it seems as though the impact of his trip will be even longer lasting.
L’Equipe states that not extending the 35-year-old forward’s contract (which expires this summer but contains the option of another year) had been previously discussed. Messi would only be available for three more PSG matches after his suspension is served.
Among Messi’s options if he leaves PSG include a return to former club Barcelona, while he has also been linked with MLS side Inter Miami and clubs in Saudi Arabia.
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12.30 BST: What can Chelsea do to fix their issues?
The Chelsea interim manager reacts to his side’s 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium vs. Arsenal in the Premier League.
11.38 BST: Chelsea striker Kai Havertz is on the radar of Bayern Munich, according to 90min.
Havertz, 23, played as an attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen before his €70m move to Stamford Bridge in 2020, where he has been used as a central striker despite only scoring 32 goals in 133 appearances in all competitions.
Bayern reportedly want the Germany international as a long-term replacement for Thomas Muller and are now coached by former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
10.56 BST: Barcelona captain Sergio Busquets says he has made a decision regarding his future and will soon inform the club.
Busquets, 34, becomes a free agent this summer and has an offer to continue at Barca for another year, with an optional second year depending on games played.
Asked if he had made a decision about his future, the midfielder said: “More or less. We now have a few days of rest and when I return I will tell the coach of my decision.”
There has been reported interest in Busquets from MLS side Inter Miami and Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
The former Spain international, who has made over 700 appearances for Barcelona, retired from international duty after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
10.19 BST: Ansu Fati‘s father, Bori Fati, has confirmed his son will continue to play at Barcelona next season.
Bori met with his son’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in Barcelona on Tuesday to discuss the 20-year-old winger’s future amid talk of a €70m move this summer.
Asked if his son will stay at Barca, Bori told COPE: “Yes, sure. We are very happy.”
Bori revealed earlier this year that he wanted his son to leave Barca this summer due to a lack of playing time under Xavi. Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Tottenham are closely monitoring the Spain international, who is under contract with Barca until June 2027.
09.47 BST: Real Sociedad want 37-year-old David Silva to continue at the club next season.
The Spanish midfielder, who has scored two goals and set up seven more in 32 appearances across all competitions to help the club to fourth in LaLiga this season, becomes a free agent this summer and has not made a decision regarding his future.
“We are very lucky that he [Silva] is with us and he will renew whenever he wants to,” Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said. “We hope he continues here. He is very happy and I have no doubt, that if he wants to, we will have David here with us next year. But it depends on him.”
Silva is in his second season at Real Sociedad, the club he joined in 2020 after 10 years at Manchester City.
09.03 BST: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni doesn’t know where Lionel Messi will play next season and says he only wants the player to be happy on the pitch.
Messi, 35, becomes a free agent this summer and will reportedly not be offered a new deal by Paris Saint-Germain (see above). The Argentina captain is a target of former club Barcelona, but his international boss offered no clues as to his next destination.
“His future is managed by him,” Scaloni said. “I hope he continues to be happy on a pitch, regardless of what club he is at. I think that’s what’s really important. That he finds the place where he can be happy within a playing field. Let him enjoy as far as he can.”
Scaloni added that wherever Messi goes, he’ll bring joy to fans.
“He is a player who moves a lot, and everyone enjoys watching him play,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen in the future, if he will return to Spain or if he will stay in France or go to another country. Any coach would like to have him.”
08.38 BST: Sam Allardyce could earn more than £3m for just four matches in charge of Leeds United if he can lead the club to Premier League survival, The Times reports.
Sources told ESPN’s Mark Ogden on Tuesday that Leeds are set to appoint Allardyce, 68, to replace Javi Gracia as manager in a desperate bid to avoid relegation.
Sources said Gracia, who replaced Jesse Marsch on Feb. 21, was dismissed on Sunday following a five-match winless run, culminating in a 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth.
Allardyce is set to be announced as the club’s new manager on Wednesday morning ahead of taking training for the first time, sources added.
The Times reports that Allardyce will earn a bonus of more than £2.5m if he can keep Leeds up, on top of his £500,000 basic salary.
Leeds are one place above the relegation zone on goal difference with games against Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur left to play this season.
08.00 BST: Barcelona have announced that director of football Mateu Alemany will leave the club at the end of the season to embark on a new professional project.
Sources have told ESPN that Alemany is set to join Unai Emery at Premier League side Aston Villa.
Barca said they will “announce changes in the football executive structure” in due course, with sources adding that sporting director Jordi Cruyff’s long term future is also uncertain. Jesus Angoy and Antonio Cordon are among those being considered as possible replacements, but nothing has been decided at this stage.
Alemany, 60, joined the club in 2021 when Joan Laporta was elected president and oversaw a frantic transfer window last summer, when Barca sold club assets to fund the singings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, among others. Working alongside Cruyff, the transfer guru has received plaudits for putting together a squad which has Barca on the brink of a first LaLiga title since 2019.
Barca said he will leave the club on June 30, making clear it is his decision. However, as his contract with Barca was supposed to run until 2024, the Blaugrana say Alemany is committed to completing the upcoming transfer window if necessary.
James Olley reacts to Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League.
– Real Madrid are the latest club to show an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani, as reported by Le10 Sport. Bayern Munich are the most serious about the 24-year-old, although Manchester United and PSG are also keen to sign him, with Eintracht set to demand at least €100m for the France international’s transfer.
– Tottenham Hotspur are set to rival Arsenal in their efforts to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi in the summer, reports the Evening Standard. Spurs have held a long-term interest in the 22-year-old and could move, with Clement Lenglet likely to return to Barcelona after his loan and Davinson Sanchez facing an uncertain future, while the Gunners have identified him to add depth to their backline.
– Internazionale see Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as a possible replacement for Milan Skriniar, according to the Daily Mail, with Skriniar set to leave Inter Milan for PSG when his contract expires at the end of the season. Inter are said to be impressed by the way the 25-year-old Adarabioyo dealt with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland last weekend.
– Arsenal could return in the summer to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Pedro Neto after long-term links with the 23-year-old, according to Football Insider. This comes with the Gunners looking to bring in a back-up option for Bukayo Saka, and they are monitoring the Portuguese as he makes a full return from the injury that kept him out for five months earlier this season.
– AS Roma are open to letting Tammy Abraham leave but not for under €45m, reports Calciomercato, a figure that is much less than Chelsea‘s €80m option to re-sign the striker. Aston Villa have been repeatedly asking about the 25-year-old’s future, while Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and PSG have all sent scouts to watch him.