Lionel Messi transfer LIVE: PSG announce signing after Argentine legend leaves Barcelona
Follow all the latest updates as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player
Lionel Messi is in Paris to be unveiled as Paris Saint-Germain's latest superstar signing. The Argentine begrudgingly departed Barcelona in a flood of tears given the horrendous state of the La Liga club's financial situation. Messi has opted to join friends Neymar and Angel Di Maria at the Parc des Princes, with compatriot Mauricio Pochettino welcoming him to the Ligue 1 giants.
PSG will possess a formidable attack with the 34-year-old joining Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to form one of the most mouth-watering tridents in European football history. Without a Champions League title in six years amid Barcelona's demise, Messi will hope to help deliver the title that PSG covet most, following their semi-final exit at the hands of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
While PSG had to pay €222m to sign Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, there will be no transfer fee for Messi, whose contract expired this summer at the Nou Camp. Instead Messi joins perhaps the greatest ever cast of free agents to arrive at one club, including Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos and former Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum.
Follow all the latest updates below as Messi is confirmed as a PSG player.
Barcelona attempt ‘miracle’ offer to keep Lionel Messi
Barcelona are making one last proposal to keep Lionel Messi at the club, according to Spanish programme La Porteria.
The club's CEO Ferran Reverter will attempt to negotiate what Mundo Deportivo describe as a "miracle".
The club and player were “negotiating through the night”, adds the report.
Jack Grealish: Manchester City’s £100m man embraces his record price tag
Jack Grealish has earned a reputation for being something of a maverick presence on the pitch and the same is true of his approach to media duties.
His official unveiling as Manchester City’s new £100m signing and the most expensive player in English football’s history on Monday evening brought an inevitable question: on whether that price tag invites pressure.
No player would ever say “yeah, you’re right, I’m terrified”, of course. But most would admit that certain expectations come with such an eye-watering fee and at least hint at the burden that their new employers have inadvertently placed on their shoulders.
Not Jack, though.
“No, it doesn’t put no pressure on me whatsoever,” Grealish replied. “I take that as a compliment. I actually like it.”
‘I actually like it’ – Jack Grealish embraces becoming a £100m man
Whereas some players would feel the pressure, Grealish sees £100m fee as a show of trust
Roma ‘near £34m deal to sign Tammy Abraham’ as Chelsea raise funds to sign Romelu Lukaku
Sky Sport in Italy report that Chelsea are close to agreeing a £34m deal with Roma to send Tammy Abraham to Serie A with Jose Mourinho.
The Giallorossi, with Jose Mourinho now in charge, could beat out Atalanta and Arsenal for the England forward.
Transfer news and rumours round-up
Raheem Sterling is reportedly set to begin new contract talks with Manchester City. According to The Sun, the 26-year-old winger has put a team together to help work through his options, which include potential moves to Arsenal or Tottenham. Sterling still has two years left on his deal with City, and is believed to feature in manager Pep Guardiola’s plans for the club.
The Daily Mail says Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele is apparently considering his future with the club after being left out of the squad for Spurs’ friendly against Arsenal on Sunday. The 24-year-old is the only fit senior player at the club yet to feature for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo He has reportedly given himself until the end of August for the situation to improve.
Liverpool ‘eye £34m Doku move’ as Roma ‘agree £34m deal for Abraham’ - Transfer News Round-Up
While Raheem Sterling, who has been linked with Arsenal and Tottenham, will open up new contract talks with Man City
Jack Grealish: Why Manchester City £100m signing is everything Pep Guardiola wants in a player
One morning at Saebener Strasse during Pep Guardiola’s time at Bayern Munich, he was deep in conversation with Juanma Lillo, his long-time mentor, former manager at Dorados and now one of his assistants at Manchester City. Together, they were discussing what they try to spot when watching potential new signings.
“Whenever we go to see a player I always look for what I see as a vital characteristic: that he’s not intimidated by his opponents,” Lillo said, as recounted by journalist Marti Perarnau in Pep Guardiola: The Evolution.
To Lillo, that meant having the courage to receive, retain and use the ball under pressure, and to keep doing so, no matter what rough house tactics the opposition might employ. Guardiola had a similar but slightly different criteria.
Why £100m Jack Grealish is everything Pep Guardiola wants in a player
The most expensive player in English football’s history ticks all the boxes for a Guardiola signing
Liverpool eye Belgium’s Euro 2020 star Jeremy Doku
Liverpool are looking into signing Jeremy Doku from Rennes for £38 million.
The Belgian lit up Euro 2020 for the Red Devils with his trickery while on the move.
And Jurgen Klopp is thought to be keen, according to Voetbal 24.
The 19-year-old has four more years on his deal, meaning the Reds will have to pay up for the former Anderlecht starlet.
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