Lionel Messi to Manchester City, Andreas Pereira to Valencia and the latest LaLiga gossip

Lionel Messi – Manchester City

After the Neymar saga and the fall out it’s continuing to cause, could Lionel Messi be the next person to send the transfer market into meltdown? The bearded, seldom smiling maestro is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal and this is making the Premier League’s big boys salivate as the prospect of landing the greatest ever player. So could Messi realistically follow Neymar out of the exit door at the Camp Nou?

It’s hard to tell what this current Barcelona board are doing. The only thing for sure is they’re doing it badly. It was back in July that they announced they’d agreed a new four-year deal with Messi. This was before the Neymar rumours kicked into overdrive so there was no reason to doubt the news. Maybe the two are linked? Either way, from that announcement until now there’s still no ink on that contract. Is Messi desperate to prove, like Jese Rodriguez, he too can do it in the Britannia bet365 Stadium?

This story is like printing money for the football business, especially those involved in writing stories about transfers. Hey, wait a second. The Neymar deal has made everyone take a step back from immediately dismissing stories which sound like pure fantasy. Yet, while a move away from Barcelona still looks unlikely, there’s genuine reason for Messi to delay signing that deal.

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People can say it’s about money but I’m not sure that’s what motivates Messi. It helps, sure, but it isn’t his main goal in all of this. Manchester City have loads of cash but it would be the project they’d need to sell, not bank notes. Is Pep Guardiola’s plan to turn City into world beaters something Messi has time for? I’m not sure they’re quite ready to lure someone like Messi away. If he lets his contract run down then the smart money is on him returning to Argentina, not Manchester.

Chances of it happening: 2/5

Philippe Coutinho – Barcelona

I know these rumour roundup pieces have been heavily Barcelona-centric recently but that’s normal when they have €222m to burn. Almost immediately following the Neymar sale, Barcelona identified Liverpool’s Brazilian playmaker as the man to replace him. However Liverpool’s strong stance is proving problematic and Barcelona are feeling less and less likely a deal will happen.

Instead of keeping the majority of their budget available for Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona purchased Paulinho and are close to sealing a move for Jean Michael Seri from Nice. Both deals take a combined €80m out of the €222m transfer kitty. It’s true they might have a bit more on top of the Neymar money but time is running out to get at least one of their main targets in before September.

Reports in Catalunya say Barcelona will make new bids for Coutinho and Dembele this week. These offers will be the final ones. The backup option at the moment is PSG’s Angel Di Maria, who could be available for much less than what Liverpool are demanding for Coutinho.

Chances of it happening: 2/5

Andreas Pereira – Valencia

It was only a week or so ago that Jose Mourinho said no one else would be leaving Manchester United this summer. The Portuguese coach is after extra bodies and doesn’t want to lose the depth he currently has. However, a close relationship with Valencia owner Peter Lim could see Andreas Pereira leave United for another loan spell in LaLiga.

Despite featuring regularly in preseason Pereira has failed to play a single minute in United’s opening two Premier League fixtures. In fact, the Brazilian is yet to make a match day squad. It’s early days but it doesn’t look good for the youngster who is desperate for regular minutes after his spell at Granada. Unless there’s an injury crisis in midfield it’s hard to see where he gets a game.

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Lim has history when it comes to bypassing the usual methods of negotiating deals and prefers a personal touch. When Alvaro Negredo joined from City it was Lim who asked Sheikh Mansour to agree to the deal against then-coach Manuel Pellegrini’s wishes. Paco Alcacer was sold after Lim directly flew to Barcelona to sort out terms. He didn’t even pass by Valencia. And now it looks like he’s hoping a personal request to Mourinho could convince him to allow Pereira a loan move to Mestalla.

Chances of it happening: 3.5/5

Pape Cheikh – Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to add a few new faces to his squad ahead of the transfer window closing and is keen on Pape Cheikh Diop. The Senegal-born Spaniard is one of the brightest prospects in Celta Vigo’s academy and is attracting interest from both Spurs and Lyon. Celta’s coach, Juan Carlos Unzue, all but confirmed the youngster was off. “What’s being said about Pape is true, it’s there.”

Pape Cheikh picked up an injury in July but was given the all clear over a week ago. Despite being named as a substitute for the final preseason game against Roma he didn’t come off the bench. Last weekend he wasn’t even in the match day squad. With 10 days to go it appears whoever moves quickest will secure his signature.

Sources in Vigo claim Pape Cheikh’s preferred option is Spurs. Pochettino’s reputation for developing and giving youngsters their chance is common knowledge and that excites the player. Both Tottenham and Lyon have had €10m bids accepted and Pape Chekih’s representative has already spent time in London as well as in Lyon. Bar a last minute change of heart it appears Pochettino might have another new name in his squad very soon.

Chances of it happening: 4/5