La Liga Leaks: Messi latest, Barca make bid for Atleti forward, Negredo to make PL return?

Good morning and welcome to another poking around the stories making the news in Spain today.

The story everyone is talking about is Lionel Messi’s trial and subsequent sentencing. It’s made the news pretty much everywhere and will continue to do so for a while yet as Messi intends to launch an appeal against his conviction. As has been reported in other outlets he didn’t get special treatment, as in Spain, sentences under two years are almost always suspended.

Speaking of Messi it appears Barcelona’s reaction to the verdict is to press forward with his renewal. SPORT claim the player needs to feel the backing from his club more than ever, despite the press release doing just that, and an announcement on his new contract could be imminent. Hopefully that’ll put the baseless rumours of him heading to the Premier League to bed. Probably not though.

Over in AS they’ve got another story about Barcelona and their pursuit for a striker. According to the newspaper’s source, the Catalan club have had a bid rejected for Angel Correa, currently on the books of Atletico Madrid. “He’s a player we’ve been following for a while. He’s got tremendous talent and an eye for goal when he’s full of confidence,” according to the insider.

Atletico aren’t interested in selling someone they view as a big part of the club’s future though. And it seems while Barcelona are set to miss out on Correa, they still hold an interest in Luciano Vietto. All will become much clearer now Diego Simeone is back in Madrid and kicks off preseason this morning with the players not on international duty or extended leave.

MARCA have a story on Alvaro Morata and his uncertain future at Real Madrid. It seems despite the good intentions of everyone involved, he will be sold if a club matches their €75m asking price. Talks are supposedly underway with Chelsea and any deal would make Morata the most expensive Spaniard in history, surpassing the €58m Chelsea paid Liverpool for Fernando Torres.

And while on the topic of Spanish strikers and moves to the Premier League, Alvaro Negredo might just add his name to that list. His future has been intensely debated in Valencia over the past couple of weeks as he flat-out refused a move to China despite the crazy money on offer. Plaza Deportiva say Sevilla want him on loan, which suits the player but not Valencia, while Middlesborough could offer him a route back to English football where he previously enjoyed success with Manchester City. His wages could prove to be an issue though.

Other news and rumours:

- Antonio Sanabria is set to join Real Betis for just €8m with Roma holding onto 50% of any future sale. (MARCA)

- AC Milan could turn to Shkodran Mustafi if a move for Mateo Musacchio proves to be too difficult. (Plaza Deportiva)

- Denis Praet looked certain to join Sevilla but the upheaval in management has seen his move stall. He’s begun talks with Southampton and Milan. (Estadio Deportivo)

- Barcelona’s Alen Halilovic could be used in deals to reduce the price of either Kevin Gameiro or Andre Gomes. (Mundo Deportivo)