Report: Messi agrees in principle to new Barcelona contract

Lionel Messi is close to inking a new contract with Barcelona that will extend his stay until 2021 or 2022, according to Marca's Luis F. Rojo.

The Argentinian, 29, is understood to have agreed to the basic wages in the deal, with bonuses and the duration - either a further four or five years from this summer - yet to be decided.

There were concerning stories in Catalonia that Messi was mulling over whether or not to sign terms that would take him beyond his current agreement until 2018. The infamous tax case with his father, Jorge, and difficult assignments on international duty with Argentina, have allegedly unsettled Messi and led him to ponder a move from Barca, where he's been since the age of 13.

One outfit reportedly keen on snapping up the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, which is believed to be "confident" of brokering a deal if Messi opts to leave Barcelona. Another potential destination is childhood club Newell's Old Boys, but a return to Santa Fe would likely be some years off while the diminutive forward is arguably at the peak of his powers.

The progress in talks between Messi and the club is a huge plus in the early days of new manager Ernesto Valverde's reign, with an announcement of the contract expected in the near future.