Barcelona news LIVE: Barca plan £157m club-record transfer, Lionel Messi contract strategy

Barcelona news LIVE updates and transfer gossip from the Nou Camp

Wednesday, March 4

• Barcelona are determined to complete the capture of Neymar this summer

• An offer of £157million is expected to be enough for PSG to sell

• Barca want new deals for Lionel Messi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen

• Atletico Madrid are leading the race to sign midfielder Ivan Rakitic

Neymar to Barcelona

Barcelona are determined to complete the capture of Neymar this summer.

That’s according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, who claim Brazilian superstar Neymar is now the club’s priority signing.

The Catalan giants had several attempts to bring Neymar back to the Nou Camp rebuffed by Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2019.

But they plan to try their luck again and an offer in the region of £157million is expected to be enough for PSG to sell.

The deal would dwarf Barcelona’s current record deal which was £130million paid to Liverpool for Philippe Coutinho.

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• Man Utd news LIVE: Ed Woodward to finance £160m double transfer

Lionel Messi contract

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu wants to wrap up new deals for Lionel Messi and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

ESPN claim Bartomeu has made extending the duo’s stay at the Nou Camp a top priority before his mandate expires in 2021.

Messi, 32, is contracted until June 2021 but is free to leave is he wishes.

Ter Stegen, meanwhile, has two years left to run on his contract with Juventus reportedly showing interest in his services.

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• Man Utd backed to complete £160m double transfer, Harry Kane decision

Ivan Rakitic to Atletico

Atletico Madrid are leading the race to sign Ivan Rakitic, Marca claim.

The Barcelona midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at the Nou Camp and looks certain to leave the club this summer.

The 31-year-old is said to want to remain in Spain.

And having made contact with Rakitic previously, Atletico Madrid believe they are leading the chase for his signature.

Wanted: Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish

Manchester United could complete the signings of Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish.

That’s according to Bleacher Report, who believe the double capture is a realistic possibility for the 13-time Premier League champions.

The Borussia Dortmund winger is wanted by several European giants including Chelsea and Liverpool but United executives are ‘increasingly optimistic’ of signing the £100million-rated forward, who ‘loves the idea’ of an Old Trafford arrival.

The report claims Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side could even offer Sancho the No. 7 shirt – previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Eric Cantona.

Aston Villa’s Grealish, meanwhile, is now ahead of James Maddison in United’s list of potential transfer targets and could join for £60million and receive a £150,000 per-week contract.

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