Is Lionel Messi readying for a move to the Premier League?

Allardyce said: "If he is not going to sign a contract [here], I [would] find it highly unlikely if it is not already verbally done. You have to accept the way it is and contrary to whether it breaks the rules or it doesn't, it happens. You are not going to prove it anyway. It is just one of the ways the football world works."

It's not been a great couple of days for Barcelona: Luis Enrique's side lost at Real Sociedad on Sunday; the club sacked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday; his assistant Carles Puyol resigned in protest; and rumours continue to swirl over Lionel Messi's future.

The Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester City could step up their interest in the Argentine ace, while Messi hasn't helped matters by starting to follow Chelsea, Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis on Instagram.

(espnfc.com)