Transfer Talk: Messi to mull return to Barcelona or venture to MLS?

The summer transfer window is here, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Messi back to Barcelona?

While there is no chance of an immediate move, there will always be interest in Lionel Messi‘s future and Diario Sport have delved into what that could involve.

Messi, 35, has one year left on his contract at Paris Saint-Germain but the Argentina international will wait until season’s end to decide his next step.

The report states that Messi could move to Major League Soccer, stay at PSG, or return to Barcelona — although there is also mention that he could even hang up his boots.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta made headlines earlier this month when he said that the “Messi chapter” at Camp Nou isn’t over. Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said bringing in Messi is “impossible” at the moment, but he has not definitively closed the door on bringing him back in the future.

Inter Miami CF‘s chief business officer also hinted at a future move for Messi, stating that a potential deal would serve “reference point for football in the U.S.”

Prior to his arrival to PSG in 2021, the 35-year-old had spent all of his career at Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances and won a host of trophies.

Messi is targeting a first World Cup win with Argentina later this year in Qatar. He is his country’s all-time top scorer with 86 goals in 162 appearances and last year broke Pele’s record for the most goals scored for a South American nation.

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LIVE BLOG

11.49 BST: Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of VfB Stuttgart midfielder Orel Mangala.

Mangala, 24, began his career in Belgium with Anderlecht and moved to Borussia Dortmund’s youth side before making the permanent switch to Stuttgart in 2017.

The Belgium international midfielder has two senior caps after making his debut in March 2022.

11.15 BST: Could Cristiano Ronaldo end up in MLS?

10.03 BST: Marseille want to sign Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez, but only if he leaves the club on a free transfer, according to La Provence.

Sanchez, 33, is reportedly surplus to Inter’s requirements and the former Arsenal, Man United and Barcelona star is ready to move on.

Marseille can offer him Champions League football next season but his contract expires in 2023, so Inter would have to release him.

09.22 BST: Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland will prove his worth to Manchester City and show his “incredible quality” after the €60m summer signing was upstaged by Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez during a 3-1 Community Shield defeat in Leicester.

Haaland, one of the game’s most exciting young talents, touched the ball just 14 times in 90 minutes and missed a clear chance to score in stoppage time. In contrast, €75m signing Nunez scored one and registered an assist during a 31-minute substitute outing for Jurgen Klopp’s team.

But despite Haaland’s false start in his first game in English football, City manager Guardiola said he had no concerns over the Norway international’s ability to succeed at the club.

“He [Haaland] had chances, two or three in first half and one at the end,” Guardiola said. “He fought a lot, made the movements. It’s good for him to see the reality of new country, new league, but he was there.

“He didn’t score. Another day he will score. He has an incredible quality on that and he will do it. He has an incredible sense. He is going to help us a lot — he had the chances, he was there. Nothing changed.”

09.00 BST: Chelsea has a verbal agreement to acquire Chicago Fire and U.S. youth international goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina for a base fee of $10m that could rise to $15m with add-ons, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Slonina, 18, is headed to London to complete a medical exam and if it’s successful will sign the deal, which will see him finish out the current MLS campaign on loan with the Fire and then head to Chelsea on Jan. 1.

Slonina has long been considered one of the jewels of the Fire’s academy, and took over the starting goalkeeper spot with the first team last season as a 17-year-old. When Slonina made his professional debut Aug. 4, he became the youngest starting goalkeeper in league history at 17 years, 81 days.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)

– Real Madrid are showing an interest in signing Fabian Ruiz as a free agent in 2023 if his Napoli contract is not extended, reports Fabrizio Romano. Carlo Ancelotti remains a big fan of the Spaniard after initially being the man to take the midfielder to Napoli during his time there.

– Juventus are set to challenge West Ham United to sign Eintracht Frankfurt winger Filip Kostic, according to Calciomercato, which adds that the Old Lady have contacted his agent to see where the Hammers are in their negotiations. Eintracht are asking for €15m and there could also be demands for €2.5m to €3m in bonuses, with it perhaps not too late for Juventus to make their move.

– Angelino missed RB Leipzig‘s German Supercup loss against Bayern Munich on Saturday in order to sort out his future, as reported by Sky Sports Deutschland. David Raum‘s pending arrival means the Spaniard would no longer be as prominent and will therefore look to leave, with TSG Hoffenheim a potential destination.

– AS Roma will move to sign free agent Andrea Belotti when Eldor Shomurodov‘s loan departure to Bologna is confirmed, reports Calciomercato. The former Torino striker would much rather join them than Valencia as it would allow him to stay in Italy, and he will ask for €3m in wages but could settle for less depending on the contract length and bonuses offered.

– PSG want Everton to pay almost all of Idrissa Gueye‘s wages if he joins the Premier League side, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. The clubs are currently holding negotiations to make a deal happen after talks were opened earlier this week ago with all parties, including Gueye himself, interested in a move. Romano had previously mentioned that PSG are keen to move him on as soon as possible.