PSG awaiting developments in Messi contract negotiations; willing to sign the player

As FC Barcelona try to raise enough funds to tie Lionel Messi down to a new deal, PSG are sitting tight and awaiting further developments. If Messi decides to seek pastures new, the Paris-based club are determined to be at the front of the queue for his signature. In fact, they'll have everything in place to sign the Argentina captain if Barcelona fail to keep him at the club.

This has been reported by AS journalist Andrés Onrubia, who claims that PSG have the same intentions of signing the Rosario-born forward as they did a few months ago. However, 'Operation Messi' would trigger a series of other high-profile summer moves.

According to the report, if PSG managed to sign the forward, they would be forced to sell Kylian Mbappé this summer. The striker has already told the club that he has no intention of signing a new deal, which is due to expire in June 2022, and the board would be willing to cash in on him this window to get one of their highest earners off their wage bill. With the current Financial Fair Play regulations, PSG would not be able to have Messi, Neymar and Mbappé in the same squad.

There is one obvious destination for Mbappé: Real Madrid. Los Blancos would be best placed to sign the French star. He is the main transfer target of president Florentino Perez, who has been tracking the player for several years.

However, this domino effect - which would send shockwaves through the transfer market - depends on Leo Messi and FC Barcelona. Both sides are keen to reach an agreement, despite the huge financial difficulties that the Catalan club are currently faced with which will force them to dramatically reduce their wage bill.