Barcelona are confident of securing Lionel Messi to a new contract, despite his previous deal expiring this week.
Messi is technically a free agent as of Thursday, and is available to talk to other clubs over a potential free transfer should he wish.
When Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona last summer, Manchester City were closely linked with his signing. While the club remained quiet at the time and Messi opted to stay, they later confirmed they would be in a position to sign the Argentine this summer if the opportunity arose.
That opportunity, in theory, is now, however there does not appear to be much chance of City making their move.
The noises coming from Barcelona are that Messi is happy with the result of this year's presidential election, which saw Josep Bartomeu replaced with Joan Laporta, and that many of his concerns from last year have been addressed.
And Laporta has offered an update on Barca's contract talks with their iconic number ten, as he declared that Messi wants to stay and new contract talks are ongoing.
He told El Transistor : "We want him to stay and Leo wants to stay, everything is on the right track, what's left to sort out is the issue of fair play and we are in the process of finding the best solution for both parties.
"I'd like to be able to announce that he is staying but at the moment I cannot do that, because we are in the process of looking for the best solution for both parties."
An extension for Messi would please Pep Guardiola, who has repeatedly said he would like Messi to end his career at the Nou Camp whenever asked about his former forward.
Messi is currently representing Argentina at the Copa America, linking up with new teammate and close friend Sergio Aguero on international duty, so a new deal may not be agreed until the conclusion of that tournament.
