Chelsea's Messi boost, Pogba's Man Utd twist, Arsenal and Liverpool to sell

 

Messi (left), Pogba (top right) and Skrtel could all move this summer

 La Liga chiefs are worried Lionel Messi could leave Barcelona, with Chelsea reportedly eyeing a £100million bid for the striker.

Messi was sentenced to 21 months in prison this week over accusations of tax fraud.
He will not be jailed and plans to appeal the sentence delivered by a court in Barcelona.

And La Liga president Javier Tebas admits Messi, 29, could look to leave Spain following the ordeal.

"It's not so serious,” Tebas said of Messi's sentence during a European Parliament event on match-fixing in sport.

“We’re dealing with an issue of legal structures that have been misused. I don’t think Messi is a criminal, he opted for a risky tax structure and the Supreme Court will make changes.

“Messi has paid more than €160m (136m) to the state, and that money has been used on hospitals and roads.

“Of course I’m afraid (that he may leave). The LFP (Spanish football league) doesn’t believe he’s guilty and we’re delighted to have him."

Chelsea have been linked with Messi in previous transfer windows but were not thought to be interested in the player this summer, with Messi's future at Barcelona seemingly secure before this week's verdict.

However, Chelsea have spoken to the Argentina international's father Jorge and made it clear that they will bid for Messi if he decides to quit the Nou Camp.

Meanwhile, Manchester United's supposed move for Paul Pogba is yet to take off.
 

Spanish newspaper AS had claimed that United were close to a £102m deal for Pogba, with Juventus finally ready to sell.

United are yet to discuss terms with Juve officials.
 

According to the claims, 23-year-old Pogba would prefer a move to Real Madrid but the Spanish giants are unwilling to match United's spending power.

United are said to have discussed a move with Pogba's agent Mino Raiola, who has already engineered Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan's arrivals at Old Trafford.
 

The Red Devils are even supposedly willing to cover Raiola's £19m commission to secure the deal.



 

Arsenal defender Isaac Hayden is close to joining Newcastle.
 

Hayden, 21, has made just two senior appearances for Arsenal and spent last season at Hull, helping the Tigers win promotion to the Premier League.

Newcastle are seeking a replacement centre-back for Fabricio Coloccini, who left the club for Argentine side San Lorenzo this summer.
 

It is claimed Hayden will have a medical on Tyneside ahead of signing a five-year contract.

 

 

 

 

Liverpool centre-half Martin Skrtel is closing in on a £5million move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
 

The Slovakia captain, who played against England and Wales during Euro 2016, has been told he has no future at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp. 

The defender, 31, has played 319 times for the Anfield club since joining from Zenit St Petersburg but made only 27 appearances last season.