LIONEL MESSI is close to signing a new ten-year deal with Barcelona, according to reports.
The contract would keep him affiliated to the club while allowing him to spend time in the MLS if he chooses to do so.
Messi would then reportedly take up an executive role on his return to Spain.
Meanwhile Philippe Coutinho will join Everton in a £35m deal this summer, SunSport can exclusively reveal.
The Toffees are so confident of landing the ex-Liverpool star that they’ve already begun already househunting for his move back to Merseyside.
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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…
VAN DE CHEEK
Donny van de Beek’s fellow Manchester United star Jackie Groenen has teased her compatriot over his lack of minutes this season.
The former Ajax star hasn’t started a league game in 2021 and has only played more than 20 minutes on one occasion since the start of December.
However, his Dutch compatriot Groenen, who signed for United’s Women team in 2019, revealed the 24-year-old is enjoying himself in England.
But the midfielder, 26, couldn’t resist poking fun at Van de Beek after she made her debut at The Theatre of Dreams under Casey Stoney last month.
Groenen told ESPN: “I joked the other day by telling him that I’ve played Old Trafford more times than he has.
“I think he’s having a good time, so it must be fine. I talk to him regularly.”
FAN-DEMONIUM
Every Premier League team will be allowed fans in their stadium before the end of the season after an entire round of fixtures were moved.
Prem chiefs today confirmed that match week 37 set for Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May will take place a few days later.
The round will now be played on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 May – one day after the latest lockdown restrictions lift.
From Monday 17 May sports teams can host up to 10,000 fans or 25 per cent of stadium capacity.
That meant that teams scheduled at home on the final day of the season on Sunday 23 May could’ve potentially had an unfair advantage.
But the Premier League today moved the penultimate set of fixtures – meaning the 10 away sides on the final day will now have a midweek home game with fans.
TELE ME MORE
ITV are preparing a bid to bring top flight English football back to free-to-air TV as they contemplate buying a stake in BT Sport, according to reports.
It was revealed earlier this week that BT Sport was being put up for sale.
And streaming platforms Amazon, Disney and DAZN were all touted as potential buyers for the TV network in a deal that would be worth billions.
But according to The Telegraph, ITV have now emerged as another possible buyer.
Both ITV and BT Sport have attempted to diversify in recent times, with ITV a partner in YouView and BT considering investing in ITV’s streaming service BritBox.
BT Sport is believed to be worth around £2billion.
ALLEG UP
Juventus are reportedly set to hire old coach Max Allegri and rebuild their squad around Paulo Dybala rather than Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Old Lady’s decade of Serie A dominance has come crumbling down under the stewardship of Andrea Pirlo.
And now the Bianconeri are struggling to even secure the vital fourth Champions League qualifying spot despite having claimed nine Scudettos on the bounce.
Juve are level on points with Napoli in third and AC Milan in fifth with five games of the season to go and Pirlo has been warned he faces the sack if he fails to secure a spot in Europe’s premier competition.
Gazzetta reports there is set to be a ‘sweet revolution’ in Turin this summer with 53-year-old Allegri potentially returning to the helm.
If he returns, here’s how SunSport’s Joshua Jones reckons they may line up…
SAM’S PAIN
Ralph Hasenhuttl has claimed it will be a ‘miracle’ if Sam McQueen plays football again.
The Southampton left-back, 26, hasn’t featured since picking up a horror ACL injury in October 2018 while on loan with Middlesbrough.
Hasenhuttl told Prost International: “His knee is good. He had some other problems, it’s a very long story to be honest.
“I’ve never had a situation where I was coming to the club and never see a player [not] playing for two-and-a-half years now. Since I’m here I’ve never seen him on the pitch.
“But when you know the infection on his knee and how things are going on then its even now a wonder that he’s able to play football or maybe one time will be able to play football again.
“We don’t know if he will ever return back to the pitch but if [he does] then it is a miracle.”
Credit: PA:Empics Sport KA-PAU
Manchester United are in ‘advanced’ talks to sign Villarreal defender Pau Torres, according to reports.
The Red Devils are searching for a long-term centre-back partner for club captain Harry Maguire.
And according to El Larguero they are closing in on Torres as they hope to secure his signature before he joins up with the Spain squad for Euro 2020 in June.
It has also been reported that while Real Madrid were interested in him, they are now ‘resigned’ to the fact that he is heading to Old Trafford.
Torres’ release clause is currently £43.4million, but that rises to £56.4m in the final 15 days of the summer transfer window.
AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…
Barcelona have extended the contract of academy graduate Oscar Mingueza to 2023.
The defender, 21, has played 36 times in his debut campaign.
CHRIST IS IN
Andreas Christensen wants to stay at Chelsea ‘for the long run’ but is yet to put pen to paper on a new Blues deal.
Christensen – who is contracted until 2022 – told the club’s website: “I’ve shown that I’m here for the long run.
“I’ve been here almost nine, ten years now. I’ve never doubted my decision [to come to Chelsea] and I’ve always been here for the long run.
“I accept that the club sometimes changes managers, and that can make it hard to always be in the team.
“There have not been any talks [on a contract extension] yet, but like I said, I’m in this for the long run and I always have been.”
STICK YOUR BEEK IN
Manchester United have reportedly offered a swap deal that would see Donny van de Beek leave the club.
Roma lost to the Red Devils last night and have been given the opportunity to sign the Dutchman in exchange for Nicolo Zaniolo.
La Repubblica detail that deal – which the Serie A side are not interested in due to Zaniolo’s importance to the team.
IT’S AL OVER
Barcelona’s move for David Alaba has collapsed after he made it clear he will sign for Real Madrid.
The Bayern Munich defender is out of contract in the summer and several clubs have been linked.
But the Blaugrana’s approach was rebuffed, according to ESPN, after his intention was discovered.
EDI, SET, GO!
Edinson Cavani is reportedly ready to commit his future to Manchester United.
ESPN report on the Uruguayan deciding to stay in England despite huge questions over his future, ahead of his contract expiring.
It is said he has ‘doubts’ over Boca Juniors’ willingness to meet his demands.
And a contract renewal could be announced next week.
EXCLUSIVE
Newcastle are on the trail of highly-rated Huddersfield midfielder Lewis O’Brien and could make a move this summer, writes Ian Murtagh.
With the pandemic hitting transfer budgets across all four divisions, managers are having to cut their cloth accordingly.
And Toon chief Steve Bruce sees O’Brien as a player who could strengthen his squad without costing a fortune.
Joe Willock is Bruce’s No1 target after his goalscoring heroics since arriving on loan from Arsenal but Newcastle could struggle to match the Gunners’ £20million valuation.
Gunners youngster Willock, 21, scored a last-minute equaliser against reigning champs Liverpool last week to add to his goals against West Ham and Spurs of late.
But O’Brien has emerged as a less expensive option.
OH CO ON THEN
Manchester United, Arsenal, Napoli, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and MORE have all had their interest piqued by news that Bayern Munich are open to selling Corentin Tolisso.
According to Kicker, the German giants will consider bids ahead of his contract expiring in 2022.
An injury has kept France international Tolisso on the sidelines since February.
Credit: Alamy TROUBLE BRU-ING
Steve Bruce is braced for interest in ‘special’ Allan Saint-Maximin this summer.
The French winger, under contract to 2026, has transformed Newcastle since returning from injury at the beginning of April to leave the Magpies nine points clear of the drop.
Toon boss Bruce said: “I have no doubt he will attract interest because you only have to watch him once to realise he’s a really gifted, talented footballer.
“He’s one of them that will get you off your set, and how many have got that these days?
“He scored a goal in training the other day which was just remarkable. He does that, where we all just have to stand and applaud.
“You can see when he’s playing and playing injury free then he’s a special, special talent which inevitably will draw interest. But the last thing we want to be doing is selling our best players.”
JACKED UP
Jack Grealish has delivered a timely boost to Aston Villa and England by returning to training.
However the 25-year-old Villa skipper will miss his 11th game on the spin against Everton as he continues his battle back from a painful shin injury.
Villa’s iconic skipper has already resumed training on his own and is now ready to rejoin his teammates next week after receiving positive results from his latest scan.
Boss Dean Smith revealed: “Jack showed a positive scan. He won’t be available for this weekend.
“We’re obviously a little bit tentative after the last time so he’s doing gradual loading. He’s working on his own at the moment. It’s a loading stress injury so we can’t rush him.”
BREAKING
Prem clubs will be allowed 500 away fans inside stadiums for the final two matches of the season.
With lockdown rules being relaxed in sporting venues, clubs are preparing to welcome fans back into grounds across the country.
Turnstiles are being reopened from May 17 with 25 per cent of full capacity – or a maximum 10,000 fans – able to finally watch their side in action. And it has been revealed by the Times that 500 of those will also be away supporters.
The Premier League’s chief exec Richard Masters has written to the 20 clubs to confirm the plans.
The letter declares: “Government has informed us that, as Covid-19 indicators continue to improve, it is planning to relax the ‘no away fans’ stipulation from the Stage Five Guidance, governing the playing of our final match rounds in season 2020-21.
“The Executive proposes an away ticket allocation of 5 per cent of available capacity (a maximum of 500 away fans) at round 37 and 38 matches, respecting the £30 away ticket price cap.”
DIKE OKAY
Orlando City have confirmed Barnsley WILL have Daryl Dike available for the Championship play-offs.
The star striker is on loan from the MLS club and his original deal was due to finish at the end of the season, which has been extended by the Yorkshire side’s fantastic form.
An Orlando statement read: “Orlando City SC and EFL Championship side Barnsley F.C. have reached an agreement. Daryl Dike, the 20-year-old player, will remain on loan through the end of the EFL Championship Playoffs.”
SOCIAL SANCTIONS
UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden has written in The Sun to detail his plans for Government punishments for social media platforms who do not do enough to tackle online hate.
Much of the British sporting world will commit to a social media blackout today at 3pm following continued abuse.
Dowden wrote: “I will shortly introduce legislation into Parliament that will force social media firms to stamp out abuse — or face the consequences.
“I want footballers and everyone else to know that we heard them in Westminster and change is coming.
“The Online Safety Bill, as it is called, is one of the first of its kind.
“Under the legislation, if social media companies do not keep their promises to users by, for example, failing to remove racist abuse, they will face severe sanctions.”
BREAKING
Tottenham target Erik ten Hag has signed a new contract with Ajax.
The Dutchman had leapt to the top of the bookies’ odds to take over after Jose Mourinho was sacked.
But Eredivisie champions in waiting Ajax have just confirmed his contract renewal to 2023, a 12-month extension.
SAD SCENES
Scottish footballer David Cox has quit football after being taunted by another player over his attempted suicide.
Albion Rovers player Cox, who has been admirably open in the past about his previous attempt to take his own life, insists he’s had enough with the sport.
He has taken to social media to allege that Stenhousemuir captain Jonathan Tiffoney aimed the slur at him at half-time during Thursday’s game at Ochilview.
In Thursday night’s fourth tier clash, Cox alleges the opposition player told him he should have succeeded in his suicide attempt.
Cox said on Facebook live: “The second half is just starting, Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir. I have left the stadium.
“I wasn’t playing tonight. I was on the bench, one of the boys on the Stenny team… we were having a wee bit of to-and-fro on the bench and they had a wee go at my mental health. Told me I should have done it right the first time.
“So I promised myself the next time it happened I’d walk off the park. Obviously I wasn’t playing (but)… I am done with football. Completely. Some folk might not think it’s a big deal, I’m f*****g fed up listening to it.
“Don’t get paid enough for it and they’d put me on the park I’d probably have broken the boy’s legs deliberately. I tried to speak to the referees about it, they didn’t want to know because they didn’t hear it.”
DEMI GOD
Everton are reportedly interested in signing Juventus defender Merih Demiral this summer.
The 23-year-old Turkey star is set to be available come the end of the season as the cash-strapped Italian giants look to raise some funds.
And CalcioMercato reports Carlo Ancelotti is readying a bid of up to £26million to lure the centre-back to the Premier League from Turin.
The Old Lady are thought to value their asset at a higher price but the Italian outlet claims ‘an agreement is far from impossible’.
The report states the Toffees have made enquiries about the player – who is contracted until 2024 – for several weeks.
Credit: Getty TAM TO SHINE
Tammy Abraham is being heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa amid reports the Blues are willing to sell him for £40million.
The 23-year-old has started just four games since Thomas Tuchel took over from Frank Lampard at the end of January.
And the German’s reluctance to play Abraham has led to widespread speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge.
According to The Mirror, Chelsea are willing to accept an offer of £40m from Aston Villa for the young striker.
MOUR MOUR MOUR
It’s the Special Sun! Jose Mourinho has signed up to be our expert columnist for the Euros.
The European Championship heads an epic sporting summer and he will pull no punches in football’s No 1 paper.
You can also hear him exclusively on talkSPORT during the tournament.
And there will be exclusive videos and online pieces to enjoy as well.
So come on England, let’s make it a Special summer all round!
Credit: The Sun NOU HOPE
Lionel Messi s edging closer to committing his future to Barcelona after the club offered him a TEN-YEAR deal, according to reports.
The mini maestro is out of contract this summer following last summer’s high-profile fallout.
Messi, 33, wanted to leave at the end of last season following the turmoil on and off the pitch but Barca demanded £625million to let him leave.
Joan Laporta has since been re-appointed as the club’s president and has been working tooth and nail to keep Messi at his boyhood club.
According to the Times, a lucrative new contract is on the table for the superstar following talks between Laporta and Messi’s father.
It gives Messi the option of staying at the Nou Camp in the short-term before having a final career swansong in the MLS.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
