PSG plan to sell 10 players to sign Messi —Report

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will reportedly let 10 players go in their efforts to cut down their £256million wage bill to be able to finance the blockbuster signing of Lionel Messi.

The French giants are the only contenders to sign the 34-year-old, who said goodbye to Barcelona in an emotional press conference on Sunday as his 21-year association with the club came to an end.

Now The Athletic have reported that PSG are planning a major overhaul of their squad in order to balance the books after what will be their biggest-ever transfer.

While the Ligue 1 favourites are said to be confident that Messi’s commercial pull and worldwide acclaim will be worth their impending investment in him, they still feel it is prudent to slash their wage bill.

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The names rumoured to be in the frame for a sale or a loan away are Abdou Diallo, Thilo Kehrer, Idrissa Gueye and Rafinha, while Mauro Icardi and Ander Herrera may also be offloaded, although the pair have said they want to stay at the Parc des Princes.

Messi is set to sign a two-year contract with a one-year extension option for an annual salary of £25million a year and contacted PSG boss and compatriot Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday to discuss a move after it was confirmed that his time at the Nou Camp was over.

It was only once Barca announced that their greatest-ever player was leaving on Thursday in a shock statement that PSG set the wheels in motion to nab the six-time Ballon d’Or winner.

It has been reported that the 2020 Champions League finalists were worried about a possible bidding war for Messi with Chelsea – although the current European Cup holders are said to have denied making an approach.

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However, despite not knowing when exactly Messi would arrive, that has not stopped PSG fans causing carnage outside Paris’ Le Bourget airport.

Videos have emerged on social media of PSG fans in their droves waiting outside an exit of the airport.
Fans were seen holding flares and screaming Messi’s name.