Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest transfer news in La Liga on Monday, August 31.

Monday morning's La Liga transfer talk news roundup:

Manchester City 'close to securing Lionel Messi signing, new Pep Guardiola deal'

Manchester City are reportedly close to completing two major pieces of business by signing Barcelona's Lionel Messi and tying manager Pep Guardiola down to a new contract.

City are understood to be leading the race for six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi after he submitted a transfer request at Barcelona earlier this week.

Such a move would see Messi reunite with Guardiola, under whom he won four of those six Ballons d'Or at Barca, although Guardiola's current deal is due to expire next summer.

However, The Mirror reports that signing Messi would convince Guardiola to put pen to paper on a new three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Barcelona remain desperate to keep their talismanic captain but have begun planning for life without him, and Man City are one of the only clubs in world football that could realistically afford the 33-year-old.

Before handing in a transfer request, Messi is reported to have spoken to Guardiola about the possibility of joining City and the likelihood of the manager staying beyond the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Guardiola has already spent longer at Man City than he had in any previous job, but would reportedly be willing to extend his stay by another three years if Messi was to join.

Manchester City 'to offer Lionel Messi £450m deal'

Manchester City are reportedly willing to pay Barcelona forward Lionel Messi a contract worth £450m.

Having expressed a desire to leave Camp Nou later in the summer transfer window, it has been suggested that Messi favours a reunion with Pep Guardiola.

Much could depend on whether City are prepared to pay an astronomical fee for the 33-year-old, which could be anything above £200m.

However, according to Sport, club officials are happy to hand the superstar a deal valued in the region of £450m across five years.

The report claims that the Argentine would remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2023 before moving to New York City FC.

Messi would allegedly receive a bonus of £225m - half of the proposal contract - when signing for the MLS outfit.

More transfer news from La Liga:

Senior Barcelona figures 'expect Lionel Messi to join Manchester City'
Senior figures at Barcelona are reportedly expecting Lionel Messi to secure a switch to Manchester City before the end of the summer transfer window. Read more.

Lionel Messi release clause at Barcelona 'has expired'
The release clause of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, said to be £632m, is reportedly no longer active, boosting Manchester City's hopes of signing the Argentine. Read more.

Donny van de Beek 'tells Ajax teammates he is joining Manchester United'
Donny van de Beek tells his Ajax teammates that he is joining Manchester United, according to a report. Read more.

Valencia 'contact Arsenal over Matteo Guendouzi move'
Valencia want to sign Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi on loan for the 2020-21 campaign, according to a report. Read more.

Lautaro Martinez 'put off Barcelona move by Lionel Messi saga'
The ongoing saga involving Lionel Messi and Barcelona has allegedly resulted in Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez being put off a transfer to Camp Nou. Read more.

Inter Milan to rival Arsenal for Thomas Partey?
Inter Milan are reportedly considering whether to rival Arsenal in the race to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey. Read more.

Barcelona view Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus as Luis Suarez replacement?
Barcelona reportedly settle on Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus as the player who they wish to replace Luis Suarez. Read more.

Barcelona 'must pay £12m to cancel Luis Suarez contract'
Barcelona will reportedly have to pay £12m to Luis Suarez if they wish to cancel his contract this summer. Read more.

Lionel Messi 'fails to report to Barcelona testing'
Lionel Messi fails to report for coronavirus testing with Barcelona, leaving him out of contention to resume training with the Catalan giants. Read more.