Barcelona Duo Reject Salary Cuts Designed To Fund Lionel Messi’s Return

• Barcelona have been keen to orchestrate a return to Spain for Lionel Messi
• The Argentine has two months until his two-year contract with PSG ends
• Barca must overcome their dire financial state if they are to complete a deal

Barcelona's efforts to reduce their wage bill in order to re-sign Lionel Messi have so far been unsuccessful.

The Catalan giants are hoping to re-sign the former favourite and bring him back to Camp Nou when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires this summer.

However, the Spanish giants need to cut the wage budget by an estimated £180 million in order to be able to afford the mercurial Argentinian forward.

After a difficult financial period, this reduction would enable the club to make some more significant moves this summer.

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It has been stated that members of the team have sacrificed their salaries over the past few years to support the team.

However, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen are two players who reportedly rejected pay cuts recently, according to Sport.

The pair arrived at the club on free transfers from Chelsea and AC Milan only last summer, having turned down new deals and offers from other teams at the time.

The report also indicates the duo's reaction to the proposed pay cut has not been positive, claiming they initially turned down bigger contracts to join the team.

Per Barca Universal, Kessie and Christensen feel a change in terms less than a year into their contracts is unwarranted and they feel Barcelona must look for alternatives.

In the coming weeks, representatives of Messi and La Blaugrana are anticipated to have additional discussions in an effort to iron out any kinks and come to an understanding.

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Barcelona focused on La Liga

Meanwhile, Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernandes stated the Catalan club was focused on securing the La Liga title despite being heavily linked with a move for Messi, PSG Talk reports.

La Blaugrana could win their first Spanish league crown in three seasons, currently enjoying a lead over their rivals, Real Madrid, who are 11 points below them on the standings.

Barcelona could bag the La Liga title as early as Wednesday night, with a victory over Rayo Vallecano extending their lead at the top to an almost unassailable 14 points.

Messi’s PSG contract negotiations stalled

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on PSG still wanting to keep Messi at the club beyond the terms of his current deal.

The French champions are still in negotiations with the player over a new deal but those talks have since stalled.

Messi originally signed a two-year deal with PSG, with an extension clause seeming less likely to be agreed to.