@Ab1 31 August 2020

Football gossip

Lionel Messi will leave **Barcelona** this summer and is "likely" to move to **Manchester City**, according to presidential candidate Toni Freixa. **(Goal)** https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/messi-leave-man-city-move-likely-barcelona-presidential/tfhqoifvwdfh1pizqvrldheyp **Barcelona** believe the only way the Argentina forward, 33, can legally leave for free is if he commits to not playing football next season. **(ESPN)** https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/4170365/messi-needs-to-go-on-strike-to-push-barcelona-departure-sources The President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, has urged Messi to return to boyhood club **Newell's Old Boys**. **(C5N, via Evening Standard)** https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/lionel-messi-transfer-latest-newells-old-boys-argentina-president-barcelona-a4536576.html **Chelsea** have agreed to sign **Bayer Leverkusen** and Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, 21, for an initial club-record fee of £72m, which will take their summer transfer spending past £200m. **(Guardian)** https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/31/chelsea-agree-initial-72m-fee-for-kai-havertz-with-bayer-leverkusen **Manchester United** are targeting **RB Leipzig's** French defender Dayot Upamecano, 21. **(ESPN)** https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/4170326/man-united-target-leipzigs-upamecano-after-sealing-van-de-beek-deal-sources Spain midfielder Dani Ceballos, 24, is poised to rejoin **Arsenal** on a season-long loan from **Real Madrid** this week. **(Guardian)** https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/31/dani-ceballos-to-make-arsenal-return-for-second-loan-from-real-madrid