PSG 'In Pole Position' But Manchester United Also Vying For Lionel Messi: Report

Paris Saint-Germain has become the favorite to sign Lionel Messi, according to reports, but another big-name club is likely to make a move for the former Barcelona star.

After 20 years, Barcelona officially parted ways with Messi as contract renewal failed to materialize due to "financial and structural obstacles." It didn’t take long before rumors began swirling that top European clubs are now tracking the Argentine.

As it stands, PSG is favored to land Messi, but according to “Transfer Window” podcast host, Evening Standard’s Ian McGarry, who has been a reputable source of transfer news, Manchester United is ready to beat the odds and join the race to sign the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position with regards to securing Messi's signature and are offering him a contract of around £63.5m ($88 million) gross over two years, and then allowing him to leave for free,” McGarry said. “As we know, he has an ambition to play Major League Soccer in America and that would be something he would obviously be attracted to.”

“However, Manchester United are also putting themselves in the frame,” he continued. “They don't believe right now that they are as strong a candidate as PSG with regards to the player's signature.”

International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

PSG is prepared to offer Messi a three-year contract and is confident about closing a deal after “positive initial talks” with the player’s representatives, ESPN reported, citing unnamed sources.

The French outfit’s manager Mauricio Pochettino earlier confirmed that signing Messi "was a possibility.” Moreover, “further negotiations” with Messi's father and agent, Jorge, are targeted to take place on “Monday, or possibly sooner,” the report added.

Chelsea is also among the English Premier League clubs eyeing to bring in the 34-year-old. Blues owner Roman Abramóvich has now asked for “a meeting” with Messi’s entourage to discuss a potential transfer, Spanish outlet AS reported.

Lifting the lid on Messi’s situation, Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that the club failed to find a workaround for the “Financial Fair Play,” a rule which basically intends to hinder clubs from splurging huge amounts of money for signings and other deals.

“I don’t want to give false hope,” Laporta told Sport. “[Messi] has other offers on the tables and there has been a deadline for these negotiations: because La Liga is starting soon, and because the player needs time to make a decision [on his next club]. We’ve been in negotiations for more than two months and these discussions have now concluded. We cannot register the player because we don’t have room for him in our wage bill.”

“We cannot find a way around the current Financial Fair Play rules and it doesn’t make any sense to continue [with discussions],” he continued.

Furthermore, Laporta also confirmed that the “post-Messi era” has now begun.

“Messi tried to make it as easy as possible for us,” the president admitted. “This is a sad moment for the club, but we have made our decision with the club’s interests in mind. We’ve overcome difficulties before and we will do it again. The post-Messi era begins here.”