Transfer Centre

Paris Saint-Germain 'may not be able to afford Lionel Messi'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 10 January 2021

PSG 'may not be able to afford Lionel Messi'

Paris Saint-Germain would struggle to afford a deal for Lionel Messi due to the attacker's mammoth wage demands, according to journalist Julien Laurens.

Paris Saint-Germain may not be able to sign wantaway Barcelona forward Lionel Messi due to the Argentine's wage demands, according to journalist Julien Laurens.

Messi has entered the final six months of his deal with Ronald Koeman's side and is free to begin talks with other clubs after failing to force an exit last summer.

PSG and Manchester City are thought to be the two clubs financially capable of pulling off a deal for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner, but Laurens has since expressed concern over the former's ability to strike a deal due to their mammoth wage bill.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Laurens said: "With Financial Fair Play, the pandemic and how much PSG have been affected like all other big clubs, I don't know how, just at the payroll level, you could have Neymar, let's say on 30 million euros a year, Messi on 60 million euros a year and Mbappe potentially with a new contract on the same amount as Neymar.

"Only those three would be around 150 million euros, just their salaries, every year. Financially, it's not possible. But they seem to say that they are going to try. But I don't think it's realistic."

Messi - who is also being linked with a move to the MLS - has started to hit top form after a slow start to the campaign and bagged a brace in Saturday's 4-0 win over Granada.