Transfer rumours: Messi, Silva, Coutinho, James, Sarr, Vardy

Paris St-Germain and Manchester United are in position to sign Lionel Messi after the Argentine forward, 33, told Barcelona he wants to leave - and both would be willing to pay a fee. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Messi decided to hand in a transfer request after he was told "your privileges in the squad are over" by new Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman. (Diario Ole via Mail), external

English striker Jamie Vardy, 33, will sign a new contract with Leicester. (Telegraph), external

Thiago Silva, 35, is set to have a Chelsea medical on Thursday, despite a late attempt by Paris St-Germain to offer the Brazilian defender a new deal. (Sky Sports), external

Philippe Coutinho would prefer to return to the Premier League than stay with Barcelona - with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea interested in the 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder. (Marca), external

Arsenal are set to walk away from a deal to sign £45m-rated Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, 27, from Atletico Madrid this summer. (Sport via Express), external

Everton are in talks over a deal for Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez, 29, with boss Zinedine Zidane keen for him to leave the club. (Talksport), external

Chelsea could sign free agent and French former Nice defender Malang Sarr, 21, on a five-year contract. (Guardian), external

Newcastle United are interested in bringing Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding, 24, in on loan and the Gunners are open to offers for the Englishman. (Mail), external

AC Milan are pushing to sign Spanish midfielder Brahim Diaz, 21, on loan from Real Madrid. (Marca), external

Crystal Palace have agreed a £14m fee for QPR midfielder Eberechi Eze, beating a late bid from West Brom for the English 22-year-old after Fulham pulled out. (Sun), external

Fulham have entered the race to sign Brentford forward Ollie Watkins, 24, with several other Premier League clubs also interested in the Englishman. (Sky Sports), external

Aston Villa are also chasing Watkins, as well as Leeds United and West Brom. (Birmingham Live), external

Everton, Leicester City, Southampton and Leeds United all sent scouts to watch Dundee United's Scottish centre-back Lewis Neilson, 17. (Dundee Courier), external