Man Utd Make Enquiry For Lionel Messi And Believe Barcelona Want To Sell

As we approach the business end of the season clubs are starting to make plans for the summer transfer market so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Man Utd are linked with Lionel Messi!

As the fall-out from David Moyes’ sacking continues it seems that Manchester United are not only working hard looking for a new manager, but they may also have some ambitious plans lined-up in the transfer market.

Well-known Spanish journalist Guillem Balague – who regularly appears on Sky Sports News and La Liga show ‘Revista De La Liga‘ – has claimed that Manchester United have made enquiries over the possible availability of Barcelona super-star Lionel Messi.

Balague initially made the claim in Spanish newspaper AS but re-wrote the piece for British readers in his column on Bleacher Report, and he suggests that United chiefs have made contact with ‘the relevant people’ to find out what the strikers situation is and they now feel that the Barca board are willing to cash-in on the Argentinean.

Messi has not been up to his usual ridiculously high standards this season with a series of niggling injuries hampering his performances, and there have been rumours that he might not be entirely happy with how he’s being treated at the Nou Camp.

The Spanish pundit states that Barca are no longer playing to Messi’s strengths on the pitch with the signing of Neymar disrupting the fluency of the Catalans attack – which used to be set-up purely to get the best out of Messi – and the Argentine is becoming increasingly frustrated and feels he is no longer being ‘protected’ by his club.

Balague wrote a book on Messi recently – ‘the life of the Flea’ – and he suggests that there is a lot going on behind the scenes with regards to the future of the 26-year-old, specifically surrounding the reasons he has yet to sign a new deal at the club. Talks over an extension have been ongoing for months yet no breakthrough has been found, and Balague claims that Barca have reneged on a series of promises made to the player and questions whether the club are trying to unsettle him to make it easier for them to sell.

The backlash from the fans would be huge if Barcelona sold Messi. But the criticism would be far less if the public perception was that the player was unhappy, was out of form and was halting the progress of players like Neymar, so it seems Barca chiefs could be trying to play a very clever, albeit dangerous, game.

With so much talk of Messi’s future going on, understandably the most powerful clubs in the world are going to sit up and take notice, and it seems United are plotting an ambitious move should arguably the best player on the planet become available.

Balague says the deposed Premier League champions have already made enquiries over Messi’s situation and although the player would ideally like to stay at the Nou Camp, United get the impression the Barca board want to sell, while the pundit also claims the idea of selling Messi was discussed at board level LAST summer which led to PSG tabling a huge offer.

Barca ended up bottling it last year and kept hold of him, but FIFA have just announced that Barcelona’s transfer ban has been suspended pending an appeal, so the La Liga giants will now be able to buy and sell players again this summer. Perhaps the board may now feel the time is right time to sell Messi and use the funds generated to re-build the squad before the possible transfer ban comes into effect, should they lose their appeal?

The idea of a Barcelona choosing to sell Messi seems absurd and I have a feeling much of this speculation is being leaked out to influence contract extension talks. However, if by some miracle Barca do intend to cash-in on the striker then I’m sure it will come as a comfort for Man Utd fans to hear that their club are leading the chase for his signature.

READ MORE –> Man Utd transfer news

They certainly won’t be the only club interested if Messi does come on the market and the Glazers better be prepared to spend some serious cash if they want to lure him to Old Trafford, but I have a feeling we’ll see the player sign a new contract this summer and commit his future to the Nou Camp. Enjoy the speculation in the meantime though!

What are your thoughts on Balague’s claims? Do you think Barca will ever sell Messi? Share your views below.