Barcelona 'preparing for CRUNCH talks with Lionel Messi as Manchester City wait in the wings'

Barcelona considering a swoop for Sergio Aguero with Lionel Messi set to demand proof they CAN compete in the transfer market in crunch talks with new president Joan Laporta

  • Lionel Messi’s future at Barcelona is up in the air with his contract set to expire 
  • Joan Laporta’s election as president has improved the chances of keeping Messi 
  • The Argentine wants assurances that Barca can compete in the transfer market 
  • Manchester City and PSG remain interested in the 33-year-old Argentine star
  • Barca are looking at a move for City striker and Messi’s friend Sergio Aguero too

Barcelona are reportedly getting ready to hold crunch negotiations with star man Lionel Messi in the coming weeks about his future as Manchester City watch with interest. 

The election of new president Joan Laporta last week – who Messi is said to have voted for – has improved Barca’s chances of holding on to their captain, whose contract at the club he has been with since the age of 15 expires in the summer. 

Messi was blocked from moving last year after handing in a transfer request, but no such obstacle will be possible this summer – and The Sun report that Messi wants assurances from Laporta that Barca can compete in the transfer market this summer before committing to staying at the club. 

Lionel Messi is wanting assurances from Joan Laporta before committing his future to Barca

Lionel Messi is wanting assurances from Joan Laporta before committing his future to Barca 

Laporta was elected the new president last Sunday but has a job on to convince Messi to stay

Laporta was elected the new president last Sunday but has a job on to convince Messi to stay

The report details that Barca are considering a swoop for out-of-contract City striker Sergio Aguero – a close friend of Messi’s – to persuade their star man to stay.

But while the club negotiate a restructuring of their finances with Goldman Sachs, improving their dire monetary situation remains their priority over incomings. 

Laporta is yet to come forward with an offer to keep the 33-year-old because he has not got the financial package in place. 

Debts at the Nou Camp have ballooned to above £1billion amid a financial crisis at the club. 

It is expected Messi and his father, Jorge, will be invited to sit down for talks within the next month. 

Barca are considering a move for Messi's friend and Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero

Barca are considering a move for Messi’s friend and Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero 

The 33-year-old scored a sensational goal from long range in Paris but Barca were well beaten

The 33-year-old scored a sensational goal from long range in Paris but Barca were well beaten

But the Argentine wants to be competing for major trophies in the final years of his career and wants assurances that big-money transfers will be possible, particularly after Barca were comprehensively knocked-out of the Champions League on Wednesday night by PSG. 

City, meanwhile, hope to show Messi that their superior financial power is a reason to move to the Premier League, while PSG are intent on doing similar as they try and persuade Messi to move to Ligue 1. 

Messi himself is not expected to make a decision until after the season’s conclusion, with Ronald Koeman’s side still intent on chasing down LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid.   

Once all interested parties have made their offers, Messi will make his decision. 

Speculation surrounding the star's future ramped up following their Champions League exit

Ronald Koeman insisted Messi could not have 'doubts' over the direction the club was heading in

Ronald Koeman insisted Messi could not have ‘doubts’ over the direction the club was heading

‘Messi must decide his own future, nobody can help him with this,’ Koeman said, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, following the 1-1 draw on Wednesday night.

‘He’s seen for a long time now that the team is going in the right direction. And with the changes we’ve made and the youngsters who are only going to improve, he can’t have doubts about the future of this team. 

‘Everyone can be proud, including our president. We’ve shown our face and from the first to the last second we saw a team that wanted to win this tie.’

source: dailymail.co.uk