Report: PSG close to signing Messi to 2-year contract

Lionel Messi is closing in on a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The French side is confident about completing a deal with Messi and will offer the former Barcelona icon a contract to keep him in Paris until June 2023, according to The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano.

The contract reportedly includes an option for Messi to extend his stay a further year.

PSG were the only club to approach Messi and his father Jorge after the bombshell announcement about his departure from Barcelona on Thursday, Romano reports.

Barcelona said the Argentine's illustrious career was set to end with the club due to "financial and structural obstacles." The club's €1.173 billion of debt and La Liga salary restraints have been highlighted as major reasons for Messi's departure.

Messi is believed to be interested in joining Mauricio Pochettino's side and linking up with Neymar, who reportedly campaigned over the last 24 hours for PSG to pursue his former Barcelona teammate.

PSG players are also "convinced" that a deal for the six-time Ballon d'Or winner will be completed, Romano adds.

PSG were reportedly assessing the possibility of adding Messi on Thursday after the Argentine reached out to Pochettino. The club was evaluating how to offer Messi a contract that would satisfy him and avoid violating UEFA's financial regulations.

The 34-year-old was also linked with Manchester City, but manager Pep Guardiola ruled out making a move for his former Barcelona player on Friday. City are fresh off signing midfielder Jack Grealish for a reported £100 million and have been linked with another lucrative transfer for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane.

Adding Messi would be the icing on the cake for what's been a wildly successful summer for PSG.

Les Parisiens have already added Messi's former La Liga rival Sergio Ramos, with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, and Georginio Wijnaldum also now with the club.