Lionel Messi picks three major signings, Liverpool relieved

THE international break is in full swing but the Barcelona transfer news keeps coming, and Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest gossip coming from the Nou Camp.

MESSI ANGRY AT JUVENTUS OFFER

Lionel Messi has heard Juventus want to sign Sergio Roberto.

And the 30-year-old is far from happy about it.

The Serie A giants are supposedly ready to pay Roberto's £30million release clause.

And Spanish website Don Balon claims Messi wants Barcelona to take measures to ensure a deal does not go through. 

PEPE TAKES AIM

14:30: Former Real Madrid defender Pepe has blasted the Liga club's fans as "unenthusiastic.”

The centre-back compared the hushed atmosphere of the Bernabeu stadium with the cauldron of noise he is now exposed to with Turkish champions Besiktas.

The Portugal international left Real for Besiktas in July after winning three Liga titles, two King's Cup trophies and three Champions League crowns.

"Perhaps Real Madrid fans won't like me saying this but they say Real Madrid fans transmit enthusiasm but I don't think they do. That's not the reality," the 34-year-old told BeIN Sports.

"The Besiktas fans are very passionate. When you go out onto the pitch the noise coming from the stands always hits you."

RUSH WANTS BALE AT ANFIELD

13:00: Now this would be a boost for Barcelona...

Ian Rush says he would love to see Gareth Bale playing for Liverpool.

He told the Mirror: "Gareth Bale is a world class player - every club in the world would want him.

"From a Welsh point of view, I'd like him to stay, to get more European experience. That will benefit Wales.

"Any English club would want Gareth Bale. Maybe Tottenham have first offer to bring Bale back to the Premier League.

"Man United has been talked about, maybe because the goalkeeper David De Gea could go the other way?

"I'd love to see him at Liverpool though. A world class player."

SUAREZ DOUBTS LENGTHY BARCA STAY

12:00: Luis Suarez says he is unlikely to retire at Barcelona.

The Uruguay international recently signed a new contract until 2021, potentially keeping him at the club up to the age of 34.

But he admits he is unlikely to retire at Barcelona because he will probably be shifted out of the club before that day arrives.

Asked if he wants to end his career at the Nou Camp, Suarez told Mundo Deportivo: “I hope so.

“I hope to try to fulfil my contract, which is what you want.

“I want to be as long as possible in the elite as I am here in Barcelona, ​​but you never know.

“No player has retired at Barca because it is very difficult and very complicated.

“But I will try to stay with the club as long as possible.”

SUAREZ: MESSI’S CONTRACT WILL BE RESOLVED

11:15: LIONEL MESSI’S CONTRACT SITUATION AT BARCELONA WILL BE RESOLVED “SOON”, HOPES LUIS SUAREZ.

MESSI’S CURRENT DEAL ENDS NEXT SUMMER, MEANING HE COULD DISCUSS A FREE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER CLUB AS EARLY AS JANUARY.

MANCHESTER CITY ARE SAID TO BE INTERESTED IN THE 30-YEAR-OLD.

BUT SUAREZ IS ADAMANT MESSI WILL REMAIN AT THE NOU CAMP AND CONTINUE HIS CAREER-LONG AFFILIATION WITH BARCA.

ASKED IF HE SEES MESSI REMAINING AT BARCA UNTIL HE RETIRES, SUAREZ TOLD MUNDO DEPORTIVO: “I WOULD LOVE TO.

“FOR WHAT LEO IS, FOR WHAT HE HAS MEANT FOR THE CLUB AND FOR THE ADMIRATION I HAVE FOR HIM. HOPEFULLY SOON THERE WILL BE GOOD NEWS.”

MESSI TO CITY?!

10:15: LIONEL MESSI’S ODDS ON QUITTING BARCELONA FOR MANCHESTER CITY HAVE PLUMMETED OVERNIGHT.

MESSI IS OUT OF CONTRACT AT BARCELONA AT THE END OF THE SEASON AND IS YET TO SIGN A NEW DEAL.

HE CAN BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER CLUBS OVER A FREE SUMMER TRANSFER IN JANUARY.

MEGA-RICH CITY HAVE BEEN LINKED WITH MESSI IN THE PAST AND THEIR PADDYPOWER ODDS ON SIGNING THE PLAYER HAVE DROPPED FROM 25/1 TO 16/1.

SUAREZ: COUTINHO NEEDS A "STEP UP"

09:30: PHILIPPE COUTINHO IS LOOKING LIKE A PLAYER WHO NEEDS A “STEP UP” FROM LIVERPOOL TO BARCELONA, LUIS SUAREZ HAS CLAIMED.

WHEN ASKED IF COUTINHO WANTS TO PLAY FOR BARCA, THE FORMER REDS STRIKER TOLD MUNDO DEPORTIVO: “OBVIOUSLY HE MUST HAVE BECAUSE HE’S A PLAYER WHO HAS AMBITION AND ANY PLAYER WOULD WANT TO COME TO BARCA.

“HE WENT THROUGH A DIFFICULT AND VERY COMPLICATED MOMENT BUT AS A PROFESSIONAL HE CONTINUED TO SHOW HOW GOOD A PLAYER HE IS AND THE PERSONAL QUALITY HE HAS.

“DESPITE TRYING TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL HE CONTINUED HELPING THE TEAM AND WORKING. 

“HE IS DEMONSTRATING AS A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS THE AMBITION TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER.”

MESSI PICKS COUTINHO ALTERNATIVES

08:30: LIONEL MESSI HAS REPORTEDLY PROPOSED THREE SIGNINGS FOR BARCELONA INSTEAD OF LIVERPOOL'S PHILIPPE COUTINHO.

BARCELONA REMAIN INTERESTED IN A DEAL FOR COUTINHO DESPITE LIVERPOOL SNUBBING THREE BIDS FOR THE BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL BACK IN THE SUMMER.

WITH THE REDS UNLIKELY TO CHALLENGE FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE THIS SEASON, A PARTING OF THE WAYS IN JANUARY COULD BE ON THE CARDS.

BUT SPANISH WEBSITE DIARIO GOL SAYS LIONEL MESSI HAS PROPOSED BARCELONA SPEND THEIR MONEY ON ONE OF THREE OTHER PLAYERS.

IT IS SAID THE ARGENTINA INTERNATIONAL WOULD LOVE FOR THE CLUB TO SIGN MONACO WINGER THOMAS LEMAR, MAHREZ.