Barcelona are reportedly ready to offer Lionel Messi a new contract until the summer of 2023 in a bid to ensure he ends his career with the club.
Messi signed a deal worth up to £100million including lucrative add-ons and signing bonuses back in 2017.
But his future was thrown into doubt when it emerged a clause in his deal could allow him to leave the club in the summer.
It has led to the Catalan club attempting to tie him down, discussing the prospect of a lifetime contract.
Messi has claimed he is not keen on such a deal, but both parties are keen to secure his future with a new contract now on the table.
According to Mundo Deportivo, club chiefs have already made contact with Jorge Messi, his father and agent, to begin talks for his contract renewal.
They could fly to Argentina over the festive period, where Messi has returned during the winter break, to thrash out a deal and keep Messi at the club until the end of his career.
Messi discussed the offer of a lifetime contract and explained why he was not keen in an interview earlier this year.
"At the time there was talk of a contract for life [at Barcelona ], as they did with [Andres] Iniesta," Messi said.
"What I said was that I don't want a contract that binds me.
"I don't want to be here if I'm not happy.
"I want to compete, perform and keep fighting for targets, not being here simply due to my contract.
"That is why I don't like [the idea of binding myself to Barcelona].
"But here [at Barcelona], I'd stay here all my life."
Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu also discussed the mutual desire to keep Messi at the club until the end of his career in a recent interview.
He said: "Leo Messi will still play with us for the next two, three, four or five years. I have no doubts about that.
"Surely it will be the wish of all parties, if he (Lionel Messi) feels strong and ambitious, to extend this contract indefinitely.
"Ultimately it is he who must decide. He has earned the right to decide when he will stop playing football. But like he said a few weeks ago, he wants to finish his playing career at Barcelona."
