Wednesday’s gossip: Messi, Martinez, Nagelsmann, Pochettino, Rice, Guehi, Mane
BBC Sports
Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, will leave French champions Paris St-Germain at the end of the season after they decided against extending his contract. (Foot Mercato – in French)
Manchester United has identified three backup options to Tottenham’s 29-year-old England striker Harry Kane: Eintracht Frankfurt’s France forward Randal Kolo Muani, 24; Roma’s England forward Tammy Abraham, 25; and Inter Milan’s 25-year-old Argentina forward Lautaro Martinez. (FourFourTwo)
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also want Eintracht Frankfurt’s Muani. (Le10Sport – in French)
Tottenham’s talks with former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann have hit a stumbling block because of the uncertainty around the sporting director role. (Telegraph – subscription)
Sam Allardyce, who is in talks to become Leeds United manager, will earn a £2.5m bonus if he keeps them in the Premier League. (Times – subscription)
Chelsea has agreed to sign 15-year-old Ecuadorian winger Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle in a deal worth up to 20m euro (£17.6m). (Fabrizio Romano)
Inter Milan are interested in Fulham’s 25-year-old English defender Tosin Adarabioyo. (Mail)
Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali met in Los Angeles last weekend to discuss the appointment of former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino. (Evening Standard)
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will give manager Mikel Arteta £200m to strengthen the squad in the summer. (Football Transfers)
West Ham have started their search for a midfielder as they prepare for the departure of 24-year-old England international Declan Rice. (Football Insider)
Ajax value 21-year-old-old Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber, who has been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, at 50m euros (£44m).(Sky Sports Germany)
Tottenham are set to compete with Arsenal for 22-year-old Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi. (Evening Standard)
Bayern Munich are willing to listen to offers for 31-year-old Senegal forward Sadio Mane. (90 Min)
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri says whether the club are in the Champions League next season is key to their planning, with Argentina winger Angel di Maria, 35, and France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 28, out of contract in the summer. (Football Italia)
Fulham are planning to hold talks with Leeds United over a permanent deal for 25-year-old Wales winger Dan James. (Football Insider)