Man City's interest in Harry Kane CONFIRMED, Lionel Messi 'has multiple offers', Lukaku updates – transfer news live

LIONEL MESSI has LEFT Barcelona after failing to agree a new contract with the La Liga giants.

The club confirmed in a statement that 'economic and structural obstacles' had prevented a deal being ratified by LaLiga.

Messi remains a free agent and leaves Barcelona having scored 672 times in 778 games, with his debut back in 2003.

Meanwhile Jack Grealish has officially sealed his British-record £100m transfer to Manchester City.

The England star signs a six-year deal at the Etihad, taking the No10 shirt vacated by Sergio Aguero.

Meanwhile the future of Chelsea target Romelu Lukaku is also to be decided, with the Inter star potentially set to move to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

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Follow ALL of the latest news and updates below…

• James Orr43 minutes ago

  PEP TALKS

  Man City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he is 'very interested' in signing Harry Kane.

  But the Spaniard has warned Tottenham that if they are not prepared to negotiate, the deal is 'finished'.

  Kane is desperate for a move to the Etihad after telling Spurs he wants to leave to win trophies.

  But chairman Daniel Levy is thought to value the England captain around £160m, with City unlikely to reach that target.

  They have of course just shelled out £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.

  Speaking about the possibility of bringing in another £100m+ man, Guardiola said: "Harry Kane is an exceptionally talented striker and of course, we're very interested.

  "But if Tottenham don't want to sell… Of course, we'll try."

  

• Giacomo PisaToday, 11:54

  CITY OFFER

  The City Football Group have made their move for Lionel Messi, according to French outlet le 10 sport.

  The report suggests the 34-year-old has been offered a three year deal, with two of them to be spent in Manchester with City, and the final year to be at New York City.

  The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is thought to want to spend a couple more years playing at the top level before retiring in the USA, and that contract certainly appeals to his wishes.

  PSG are still thought to be the frontrunners for his signature though.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 11:28

  THAT'S ALL

  That's all from Joan Laporta as he leaves the stage.

  He made it clear that Messi wanted to stay at Barcelona, the club did all they could and so did Messi, but financial constraints mean it can't happen.

  Laporta blames the disastrous losses from the previous presidency that have left the club in serious debt, with 95% of the club's income going on the player's salaries.

  It means the club could be in a position at the end of the season that sees them lose over £400million.

  Laporta didn't say where Messi would be going when quizzed by reporters, but he did say he is the best player in the world so he has offers from the best clubs in the world.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 11:25

  BIG LOSSES

  Joan Laporta claims that Barcelona's losses by the end of the season could be in excess of £400m!

  WOW!

• Giacomo PisaToday, 11:01

  LAPORTA LATEST

  "We even shook hands [him and Messi] but the contract didn't fit in the regulations.

  "And we reached the agreement that it couldn't be."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:59

  ON PSG INTEREST

  When asked who he wants to see Messi move to and where he's moving to, Laporta says:

  "I would like to see him play at Barca but whatever he does is up to him.

  "You'll have to ask him.

  "I don't know but it's always been said that they have options [for Messi]."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:55

  PREVIOUS PRESIDENCY

  Laporta calls the inheritance from the previous presidency disgraceful, with impossible debt.

  And that is partly the reason for Messi's exit.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:54

  CLUB IN DANGER?

  "We need to rationalise the salaries and we need to boost the income."

  The fact that Laporta is publicly saying the club need to increase their income is very worrying for Barcelona fans.

  It's almost indicating that the club is in danger of going under.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:52

  MORE FROM LAPORTA

  He thinks the players' salaries should be 65-70% of income.

  But it's 95% without Messi.

  But he says the losses aren't purely down to salaries, again blaming decisions made in the previous presidency.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:51

  LOSSES EXPECTED

  Laporta goes on to say there will be serious losses.

  But he refuses to go into the exact numbers, but says they will be released at some point.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:51

  MORE FROM LAPORTA

  Laporta is saying the salary of the players is 95% of the club income.

  It means negotiations will be needed with players for them to acceptreductions in their salaries.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:48

  UNDER SCRUTINY

  Barcelona President Joan Laporta continues to be quizzed by the Spanish media.

  

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:43

  "BARCA IS HIS HOME"

  On whether Laporta has spoken to Messi:

  "Leo wanted to stay, so he's not happy.

  "We all wanted him to stay but for him right now he has to confront reality.

  "It's a reality he can't change and he knows I wish him the best wherever he goes, him and his family.

  "And Barca is his home."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:42

  SAYING IT HOW IT IS

  When asked if the situation could have been dealt with differently, Laporta says:

  "It could have been done better maybe.

  "But I'm explaining it as it is."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:41

  OVER THE LIMIT

  Laporta explains that Barca are over the salary limit, even without Lionel Messi.

  He says he has to abide by the rules of La Liga, even though La Liga want him in the league.

  But they can't make an exception for him because other clubs are abiding by the rules.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:39

  INSIDE THE ROOM

  Laporta says: "My decision is that we can't put the club at risk."

  

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:38

  ON THE SALARY SITUATION WITHOUT MESSI

  "Everyone is working on the situation [salary situation].

  "And now we have a little bit more margin to see if we can find a solution, but we're at the limit.

  "Even without Leo.

  "Even without Leo we don't have a margin."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:36

  DECISION DAY

  "Two days ago I reached the conclusion that we had to say enough, that we couldn't do it.

  "And yesterday we had our last conversations with Leo's father."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:35

  DECISION DAY

  "With great sadness we have had to make a decision.

  "What we can't do is just keep prolonging the agony and making things longer."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:32

  MORE FROM LAPORTA

  "We couldn't keep going with this [economic situation], and we needed to make a decision.

  "And that's what we did."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:32

  TOUGH TIMES

  Joan Laporta looks under pressure as he stands in front of the Spanish media and broadcasts to the world.

  

  

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:31

  SALARY NIGHTMARE

  Laporta says they agreed a deal with Messi but it could not be finalised due to financial fair play.

  The salary limit didn't permit it.

  He goes on to say decisions under the previous presidency were "awful" in terms of numbers, and the situation at the club is worse than feared.

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:28

  SAD SITUATION

  "It's obviously sad that the situation is what it is with Messi.

  "We can't pay homage to him in the way we would have wanted to in two years with fans in the stands.

  "It could have been done a nicer way but the circumstances are what they are, so it's very sad."

  

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:26

  LA LIGA CRITISCISM

  "La Liga is not flexible in widening their salary limit.

  "The club is over everything and we can't effect those broadcasting rights for over half a century."

• Giacomo PisaToday, 10:24

  SALARY MORE THAN INCOME

  Laporta says that the salary at the club would be 110% compared to club income should Messi have stayed.

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