Thomas Lemar, Philippe Coutinho, Mesut Ozil and Nabil Fekir four-man Barcelona shortlist
Rumours persist that the new deal Messi has reportedly 'agreed to' is not all cut and dried and he could leave at the end of the season
BARCELONA have drawn up a four-man shortlist of transfer targets they want to sign in order to "keep Lionel Messi happy".
Mesut Ozil, Philippe Coutinho, Nabil Fekir and Thomas Lemar are wanted by Barca boss Ernesto Valverde to bolster the ranks at the Nou Camp.
Argentine striker Messi remains the subject of intense speculation over his future.
Despite the club insisting the deal has already been "agreed and signed", there is yet to have been an official statement and the customary handshake.
Spanish news-site Dario Gol reports one possible reason for Messi considering his future could be because he is unhappy with the level of talent the club have brought in of late.
The likes of Paco Alcacer and Andre Gomes have failed to make their mark with the Catalans, and while Ousmane Dembele was seen as a good signing, he got injured early on.
And so a new shortlist has been drawn up - and it includes some familiar faces.
Coutinho and Lemar were both eyed up the the Spanish giants this summer, with Coutinho even handing in a transfer request at Liverpool to force through a move.
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Lemar was also on the shortlist of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, but chose to stay at Monaco.
Ozil, meanwhile, is out of contract at the end of the season with Arsenal, and seems no closer to singing a new deal.
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Fekir, who made the news recently when he incited a pitch invasion when he celebrated a goal for Lyon against St Etienne, has been earmarked as France's next star and is already captain at his club side.
The Messi situation is worrying not only the club's fans, but also some of his own players.
SunSport reported earlier how even Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic is not confident the Argentine star will stay at the Nou Camp.
Speaking to Sport.Es, the Croatian midfielder said: "I can't say 100 per cent if he will stay or not. That's his decision and you have to respect what each person thinks or does.
"But what I can say is I see him the same as I always. We haven't spoke about it, but we're confident he will stay.