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Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Man City ‘might get Messi’, Pogba agent fee ‘holds up Man Utd deal’

What with the eight La Liga titles, four Spanish cups, four Champions League trophies and 453 goals he has given them, you would have thought Lionel Messi would be quite popular at Barcelona. But apparently some people at the Nou Camp remain unimpressed. That, at least, is what the Metro is reporting, and it’s music to Manchester City’s ears.

Former Barca president Joan “Collins” Laporta has apparently claimed that there is a “conspiracy” to get Messi out of the club. We’re not sure why exactly. It appears to be something to do with the Argentine’s recent trips to court on tax evasion charges, or maybe it’s just because they don’t like his new blonde haircut that makes him look like Daenerys Targaryen out of Game of Thrones.

“There are certain powers who want Messi to no longer be a Barca player,” Laporta is quoted as saying, which has fuelled a belief in Manchester that Messi could move to the Etihad because he is “friends” with Sky Blues chief executive Ferran Soriano and director Txiki Begiristain. Right.

Once they’ve signed Messi, which of course is definitely going to happen, City are also set to go head-to-head with Manchester United for a couple of players.

Both clubs are reportedly willing to pay £50m for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci (Manchester Evening News) and about £30m for Palmeiras forward Gabriel Jesus (Sun).

United’s signing of Paul Pogba, meanwhile, is being held up because they are reluctant to pay the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola a £25m fee, because understandably this would make them feel physically sick (Sun).

Juventus are already making plans for Pogba’s departure though, with Corriere dello Sport claiming the Italian champions are set to replace Pogs with Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano.

Liverpool could recoup £100m in transfer fees this summer, according to the Daily Mail, which would comprise £30m for Christian Benteke, £6m for Brad Smith, a few more million for Lazar Markovic and Andre Wisdom, £44m they have already received for Joe Allen, Jordon Ibe, Joao Carlos Teixeira, Sergi Canos, Martin Skrtel and Jerome Sinclair, plus about £49.99 for Mario Balotelli.

Moneybags Everton still haven’t signed any outfield players but they are in talks to sign Marko Arnautovic after he opted not to sign a new contract at Stoke (Mail) and also remain in the running to sign defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who has vowed to leave Napoli (Talksport).

Elsewhere, Carlos Tevez claims to have rejected offers to sign for Napoli and Chelsea (Gazzetta dello Sport), Roberto Martinez is top of Hull City’s shortlist for a new manager (Guardian) and Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund are vying to sign Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko (Le10Sport). Jurgen Klopp, who just signed Georginio Wijnaldum, was evidently really impressed by the Magpies’ relegated midfield last season. Jonjo Shelvey next?

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