4 years ago
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Lionel Messi's father has told Paris St-Germain that the Barcelona and Argentina forward, 33, wants to join Manchester City. (L'Equipe, in French)
Messi called Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola last Tuesday - before telling Barcelona he wants to leave - and told him 'I want to win the next two Ballon d'Or awards, and I can only do that with you'. (Marca)
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has rejected a meeting with Messi to negotiate his departure and is clinging to a £624m termination clause. (El Periodico, in Spanish)
Chelsea are interested in signing Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, 21, who is valued at nearly £50m but has entered the final year of his contract at AC Milan.(Football Insider)
However, AC Milan are in talks over re-signing Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after having the 33-year-old Bosnian on loan as cover for Donnarumma for the second half of last season. (Telegraph, subscription required)
Meanwhile, Chelsea could also push their summer spending over £250m after considering making £80m offer for West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice, 21. (Sun)
Liverpool and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 29, is wanted by Barcelona. (Goal)
Republic of Ireland right-back Matt Doherty, 28, will have a medical with Tottenham on Saturday after they agreed to pay an initial £12m to Wolves. (Football London)
Senegal forward Sadio Mane, 28, is open to leaving Liverpool and rejoining former Southampton boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona. (Mundo Deportivo, in Spanish)
Freiburg and Germany defender Robin Koch, 22, has agreed personal terms with Leeds United. (Football Insider)
Manchester United are close to completing deals for young Spanish full-backs Marc Jurado, 16, and Alvaro Fernandez, 17, who would join from Barcelona and Real Madrid's youth set-ups respectively. The pair have already been pictured in United training gear with squad numbers 88 and 90. (Sky Sports)
Aston Villa are set to beat off competition from Sheffield United and Fulham to complete a £12m deal for Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash, 23. (Telegraph, subscription required)
Real Betis are closing in on the signing of Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 37, who has been released by Manchester City. (Marca)
Inter Milan are in the final stages of negotiating a £1.34m deal to sign Roma's Serbia left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, 34. (Gazzetta dello Sport, in Italian)
Spain Under-21 midfielder Brahim Diaz, 21, is close to joining AC Milan from Real Madrid. (Marca, in Spanish)
Friday's gossip column 
