Messi's Barcelona return could be derailed by England star

Stuart Telford

• 27 Apr 2023 15:45 BST
• 3 min read

Paris Saint-Germain hope signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur will be a statement of their ambition that helps persuade Lionel Messi to stay in the French capital and spurn a return to Barcelona.

Messi is out of contract in June and is edging closer to a return to spiritual home Barcelona, where he is the club's record scorer and appearance maker, according to numerous reports.

The Argentina star, who fired his nation to World Cup glory in Qatar in December, is understood to have reservations about PSG's sporting project with the French champions once again knocked out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage this season.

READ: ALMOST OFFICIAL: Lionel Messi and Barcelona agree free transfer

Barca have been public about their desire to bring Messi back to Camp Nou, and as five-time European champions they trump his current employers for prestige, if not financial security at the moment.

Kane has been most consistently linked with a move to Manchester United at the end of the season, although Bayern Munich and Chelsea are also reportedly interested in the England captain, but PSG are ready to skip the queue according to reports in France.

Kane 'top' of PSG's list

"After a lacklustre 2022 transfer window, the capital club are determines to succeed in its summer recruitment around Kylian Mbappe," write Le Parisien. "Up front, they are focused on England's star player.

READ: Harry Kane's Manchester United transfer warning

"According to our information, PSG have Harry Kane's name at the very top of their list of attackers, with the search for a world class striker their main priority next summer."

As well as being a fine player in his own right, Kane's arrival would free Mbappe up to play on the left flank, as he does with France, while it could have a ripple effect on Messi…

"PSG want to convince Leo Messi to renew his contract by signing Harry Kane this summer," Alfredo Martinez told Spanish radio giant Onda Cero.

Whether it works or not is another matter.