Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp doubts that Lionel Messi will play in the Premier League amid the possibility of him moving to Manchester City.
Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave the club earlier this week and City are the favourites to land him if he does follow through with his desire to quit the Nou Camp.
The finances behind any deal are unclear, with the La Liga giants insisting Messi can not walk away for free, as he had hoped, with a huge release clause in his contract.
With Guardiola, chief executive Ferran Soriano, football director Txiki Begiristain, chief operating officer Omar Berrada and other key staff having close links with Barcelona, everyone is treading lightly around a potential deal that could shake the core of world football.
Sources close to Guardiola are adamant that the player rang the City boss, with whom he shared two Champions League triumphs, before he actually informed Barcelona of his desire to leave.
With so much uncertainty over the transfer Klopp is sceptical that the Barcelona great will arrive in the Premier League this summer.
"It will obviously help Manchester City and make it more difficult to beat them," Klopp said ahead of Liverpool's Community Shield clash with Arsenal.
"For the Premier League, it would be a great boost that would help but I am not sure the Premier League needs that boost.
"He's never played in another league. Football is different here. I'd like to see it but I'm not sure I will."
