LIONEL MESSI is willing to join Man City if they pay him £500,000-a-week after tax, SunSport can reveal.
Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo's future is equally up in the air with the Portuguese ace reportedly looking at a Juventus exit.
And Zinedine Zidane has reportedly told his players he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
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- Jack Figg
GOOD MORNING FOOTBALL FANS
Manchester City have been told they can have Lionel Messi if they pay him £500,000-a-week AFTER TAX.
The superstar’s contract with Barcelona runs out at the end of the season and his father Jorge has started the process of deciding where his future lies.
SunSport understands the 33-year-old is open to the idea of a 12-month contract, with an option for a further year, if a club will stump up £25million-a-year.
That would make him the best-paid player in Premier League history and the lack of a transfer fee plus the enormous commercial cut gained by signing Messi could make financial sense.
Meanwhile, Edinson Cavani will hit a six-figure jackpot if he is a chart-topper in his second season at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United striker agreed a deal to stay for another 12 months, as Sunsport revealed he had been offered a pay hike to £250,000-a-week.
And the Uruguay forward could earn close to the same again in bonuses if he is in the goals next season.
Cavani, 34, will pick up an extra £100,000 if he is United’s leading scorer – and a similar amount if he ends up as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner.
It is also understood that United will promise the South American a rolling annual review, which could even see him staying in England for another season beyond the next one.
And finally, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers shared his thoughts after leading the Foxes to their first ever FA Cup trophy.
He told the BBC: “It’s an amazing feeling.“I wasn’t aware before I came to Leicester that they hadn’t won the FA Cup. So to be able to give that to these supporters, plus Top [Srivaddhanaprabha] and his family, makes this a special day.
“It’s a real collective effort at Leicester, from the board, players, staff and supporters. It’s an amazing day for the city.
“Youri’s [Tielemans] goal was like an old-school FA Cup winning goal, but also Kasper’s [Schmeichel] saves. I thought we were the better team overall. We were super-aggressive and always a threat with the ball.
“Chelsea are an amazing team but I though we deserved to win. It’s the FA Cup, and as a British coach, it means so much. I’m so proud, but more happy for everyone else. A monumental performance and what a day for everyone involved with Leicester.”
- Joe Brophy
ED START
Exclusive by Phil Thomas: Edinson Cavani will hit a six-figure jackpot if he is a chart-topper in his second season at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United striker agreed a deal to stay for another 12 months, as Sunsport revealed he had been offered a pay hike to £250,000-a-week.
And the Uruguay forward could earn close to the same again in bonuses if he is in the goals next season.
Cavani, 34, will pick up an extra £100,000 if he is United’s leading scorer – and a similar amount if he ends up as the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner.
It is also understood that United will promise the South American a rolling annual review, which could even see him staying in England for another season beyond the next one.
- sstreet
ALL BARC, NO BITE
Man City's hopes of signing Lionel Messi have been rekindled by his new contract offer at Barcelona, SunSport can reveal.
Messi, who turns 34 next month, has accepted his salary with Barca will be reduced but wants better terms than the two thirds reduction proposed by the Catalans.
Only Man City and PSG have the post-pandemic clout to match Messi's terms and staying at Barcelona still appears the most likely option.
However new club president Joan Laporta is desperate to sign Erling Haaland and could even be willing to dispense with the Messi to push the deal through.
- Joe Brophy
GETTING MESSI
Exclusive by Duncan Wright: Manchester City have been told they can have Lionel Messi if they pay him £500,000-a-week AFTER TAX.
The superstar’s contract with Barcelona runs out at the end of the season and his father Jorge has started the process of deciding where his future lies.
SunSport understands the 33-year-old is open to the idea of a 12-month contract, with an option for a further year, if a club will stump up £25million-a-year.
That would make him the best-paid player in Premier League history and the lack of a transfer fee plus the enormous commercial cut gained by signing Messi could make financial sense.
- Joe Brophy
DOR OPEN
Manchester United are reportedly in ‘pole position’ for signing Jadon Sancho.
Sport1 claim the winger is keen on making a switch to Old Trafford as United ‘will remain’ the club of his choice.
The report adds that talks between the Red Devils and the Borussia Dortmund star’s agent are ‘already underway.’
- Joe Brophy
REAL PROBLEM
Zinedine Zidane is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.
- Joe Brophy
VARDY PARTY
A fan-favourite Inbetweeners reference from the man who played in every round of the FA Cup.
- Joe Brophy
FOX STEP
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers shared his thoughts after leading the Foxes to their first ever FA Cup trophy.
Rodgers told the BBC: “It’s an amazing feeling.
“I wasn’t aware before I came to Leicester that they hadn’t won the FA Cup. So to be able to give that to these supporters, plus Top [Srivaddhanaprabha] and his family, makes this a special day.
“It’s a real collective effort at Leicester, from the board, players, staff and supporters. It’s an amazing day for the city.
“Youri’s [Tielemans] goal was like an old-school FA Cup winning goal, but also Kasper’s [Schmeichel] saves. I thought we were the better team overall. We were super-aggressive and always a threat with the ball.
“Chelsea are an amazing team but I though we deserved to win. It’s the FA Cup, and as a British coach, it means so much. I’m so proud, but more happy for everyone else. A monumental performance and what a day for everyone involved with Leicester.”
- Joe Brophy
WHAT THE EK
Spotify owner Daniel Ek has confirmed that he made a failed attempt to buy Arsenal.
- Joe Brophy
‘WIDER IMPLICATIONS’
Arsenal have spoken to Mohamed Elneny about his pro-Palestinian social media post.
“As with any employees of Arsenal, our players are entitled to express their views on their own platforms,” the club told Sky Sports News.
“That said we have spoken to Mo about this so he understands the wider implications of his post.
“As a club we are committed to confronting and eliminating all forms of discrimination and continue to champion the need for equality and diversity across all areas of life.”
- Joe Brophy
NO SALE
Arsenal have denied receiving a takeover approach from the club legend consortium led by Spotify founder Daniel Ek.
The Swedish billionaire, 38, has claimed to be formulating a £1.8million bid to buy the Premier League side from unpopular owner Stan Kroenke.
Fan protests against the American have escalated since the Gunners’ attempt to join the doomed European Super League.
Arsenal supporter Ek promptly announced his intention to buy the club with the help of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira.
But a spokesperson for the North London outfit has denied receiving any official approach.
Kroenke Sports Entertainment insist they have no intention of letting the club go despite the fan fury.
- Joe Brophy
ZIZOU OFF?
Zinedine Zidane has hinted he could leave Real Madrid at the end of this season.
He said: "It's not, the only thing about me is that what I do, I do to the end, and then there comes a time when it's the moment to change.
"For everyone, not just for me. For the club, for the good of the club, for the people.
"I don't leave because it's easy. It's not like I turn away and don't look back. No, there are moments when you have to be there and there are moments when that's it, it's finished, it's time to change. But for the good of everyone, not just for me."
- Joe Brophy
CHELSEA 0 LEICESTER 1
Youri Tielemans glorious strike gave Leicester FA Cup final glory at the fifth attempt as Chelsea had a last-minute goal controversially ruled out on VAR.
Tielemans hit a 25-yard top-corner special on 63 minutes – before the video assistant referee adjudged Blues' sub Ben Chilwell millimetres offside when his cross was deflected home by Foxes' sub Wes Morgan.
Read SunSport's match report HERE.
- Joe Brophy
MOUR SAINTS
Jose Mourinho wants to take Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin to Italy as part of his Roma revolution, according to reports.
The former Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham boss will take over the sleeping Serie A giants in the summer.
It is understood Mourinho, 58, will be given a healthy transfer budget to get the Giallorossi into the Champions League.
And, according to Corriere della Sera, the Portuguese boss has identified the tricky Toon winger as a top target.
- Joe Brophy
A STEP TOO VAR
Manchester United will need to bid £60million to if they want to sign Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, according to reports.
The Red Devils are believed to be interested in the France international but their rumoured £40m bid will not be enough to sign him.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Real Madrid want €70m – around £60m – for Varane, who is out of contract at the end of next season.
- Joe Brophy
SERGI-GO
Paris Saint-Germain have joined the race to sign Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos, according to reports.
The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the season, sparking interest in his signature.
Several clubs are said to be tracking Ramos, but PSG are most interested in the Los Blancos captain, report AS.
- Jake Lambourne
SAINTS ROW
Southampton have eased to a 3-1 win against Fulham to inflict further woe on Scott Parker's men.
Che Adams, Nathan Tella and Theo Walcott all got on the scoresheet for the Saints.
Click HERE to read the SunSport match report.
- Jake Lambourne
ARAM AND A LEG
Man Utd are interested in signing Getafe midfielder Mauro Arambarri, according to reports.
The Premier League giants are believed to have made contact with the 25-year-old's representatives over a possible summer move.
According to AS, the Red Devils are one of many big European clubs monitoring the Uruguay international.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, however, are said to be the most keen on a move and have made contact with Arambarri's people.
The report claims United see him as a player that can complement Bruno Fernandes' abilities.
And as Arambarri has a rumoured €25million release clause – around £21.5m – he would come relatively cheap in today's market.
There are even rumours that Getafe would accept as little as £17m for the midfielder.
Mauro Arambarri, 25, is said to be a target for Manchester United - Jake Lambourne
TO BE FRANK
Frank Lampard's "fingerprints" are all over Chelsea's transformation despite Thomas Tuchel succeeding him in January, claims Joe Cole.
Lamps' ex-England team-mate told the Mail: "Tuchel has come in and done an unbelievable job.
"But you can't disregard what Frank did – holding the fort during a difficult time, getting the club to a cup final last year, getting Champions League when they had lost their best player (Eden Hazard).
"He brought in many of these young players in and put £200million of talent on the bottom line.
"They were going through a bad spell earlier in the season and that's Chelsea – you know if you go through a bad spell you could get the sack.
"Frank's fingerprints will be on this team but you have to credit Tuchel – to come in and have the impact he's had is extraordinary.
"Chelsea is in a really healthy place at the moment so I am very happy, very confident."
- Jake Lambourne
TEAM NEWS
This is how Chelsea and Leicester start for the FA Cup final.
- Jake Lambourne
UP FOR THE CUP
Leicester and Chelsea fans are enjoying a big day out at the football once again as Wembley opened its doors for the FA Cup final.
Some 21,000 fans are attending Saturday's clash between the Premier League clubs in the capital.
It is the biggest crowd welcomed into a live event since the coronavirus pandemic led to multiple lockdowns and games being played behind closed doors.
Those trekking up Wembley Way were asked to a Covid test in the days prior to the game before a lateral flow test this morning.
The game itself kicks off at 5.15pm as Leicester look to win their first-ever FA Cup final after four defeats in the showpiece, the most recent in 1969.
Wembley Way was back in business on Saturday
- Jake Lambourne
ELNENY CONTINUED
In a statement to the JC, an Arsenal spokesman said: “As with any employees of Arsenal, our players are entitled to express their views on their own platforms.
"That said, we are speaking to Mo about this so he understands the wider implications of his post.
“As a club we are committed to confronting and eliminating all forms of discrimination and continue to champion the need for equality and diversity across all areas of life.”
- Jake Lambourne
MO LAUGHING MATTER
Arsenal sponsor Lavazza are holding ‘urgent talks’ with the club after a controversial tweet from Mohamed Elneny.
The Egyptian midfielder posted a pro-Palestine message amid the worsening conflict with Israel.
The Jewish Chronicle reported coffee group Lavazza’s insistence on urgent talks with the club following Elneny’s social media post.
The post included an image with the text ‘Palestine Lives Matter’ which shows an outline of Israel with pro-Palestine images within.
The Lavazza Group told the JC: “We’ll immediately reach out to Arsenal to remark we are concerned about the club associated with such a message.
“Content of this post is totally not aligned with our company values. Lavazza Group is fully committed against racism and antisemitism.”
- Jake Lambourne
FEEL THE BURN
Leeds eased to a 4-0 win away at Burnley earlier this afternoon with Spanish striker Rodrigo scoring twice.
The Whites are now two points behind ninth-placed Arsenal, and four points clear of Aston Villa in 11th.
Click HERE to read the SunSport match report from Turf Moor.
- Jake Lambourne
FOCUS ON IT
Alex Scott has been named as the new host of the BBC’s Football Focus, becoming the show’s first permanent female host in its 47-year history.
The former Arsenal and England star will take over from Dan Walker, who is stepping down after 12 years at the helm.
The 36-year-old full-back made more than 200 club appearances during her playing career, earned 140 caps for her country and represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
Announcing the appointment in a column for BBC Sport, she wrote: “When I was a kid, I would never have watched television and thought someone like me could be presenting a programme like Football Focus.
“For the BBC to trust me with this role and allow me to be my true, authentic self means a lot.”
Alex Scott has been named as the new host of the BBC's Football Focus
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