Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has told the Spanish giants he wants to leave the club immediately, with Manchester City leading the race for the 33-year-old Argentina forward. (Esporte Interativo – in Portuguese)external-link
Barca will listen to offers for a host of players, including Antoine Griezmann, 29, and 23-year-old fellow France forward Ousmane Dembele, who cost £107m from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and £135.5m from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 respectively. (Sport – in Spanish)external-link
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is being lined up as a replacement for Pep Guardiola if the Manchester City boss fails to negotiate a new contract. (Sun)external-link
Arsenal have agreed terms on a new contract with captain and Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 31, and are also closing in on the signing of Brazil defender Gabriel Magalhaes, 22, from Lille. (Telegraph – subscription required)external-link
Juventus are interested in signing the Gunners’ France striker Alexandre Lacazette or Wolves’ Mexico forward Raul Jimenez, both 29. (Sky Sports)external-link
Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara has agreed a four-year deal with Liverpool, with the Bundesliga club asking for in excess of £30m for the 29-year-old Spain midfielder. (RMC Sport, via Mirror)external-link
Juventus are open to selling 26-year-old Paulo Dybala, with Manchester United and Tottenham are interested in the Argentina forward. (Gazetta Dello Sport – in Italian)external-link
Juve’s 29-year-old Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro, who is a target for Chelsea, could be available for 40m euros (£36.2m) as the Italian champions’ new boss Andrea Pirlo looks to raise transfer funds. (Corriere Dello Sport – in Italian)external-link
The Blues are also ready to move for Manchester City defender John Stones, 26, even if they sign 28-year-old fellow England centre-back Lewis Dunk – who is also a target for Tottenham – for £40m from Brighton.(Mirror)external-link
Inter Milan are keen on Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, 30, and may pay the £20m asking price for the England centre-back, who has spent the season on loan at Roma. (Metro)external-link
Leeds United have turned their attention to Germany and Freiburg defender Robin Koch, 24, with a deal for their top target, Brighton’s 22-year-old English centre-back Ben White increasingly unlikely. (Telegraph – subscription required)external-link
Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham have also made contact with the Seagulls about £50m-rated White. (Sun)external-link
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