Barcelona Transfer News: Lass Bangoura Eyed, Latest Lionel Messi Exit Rumours

Barcelona will launch a shock move for Rayo Vallecano winger Lass Bangoura this January as rumours continue to swirl around the long-term future of Lionel Messi, who's reportedly "closer than ever" to leaving the club.

Catalunya Radio (h/t Spanish newspaper Sport) reported on Saturday that a surprise bid would be made for Lass following news that he was "expelled" from a recent training session and had a falling out with manager Paco Jemez.

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The incident occurred on Thursday and Jesus Colino of Spanish newspaper AS provided further detail as the Rayo first team were trailing in a practice game against their reserves, where Jemez called time after just 60 minutes.

However, Sport stated Lass was singled out and sent to the changing rooms before storming away from the training ground, after which Jemez was quoted by AS, telling the remaining players: “[It's] Impossible to play any worse than that, we’re going absolutely nowhere with that attitude."

Barcelona's transfer ban comes to an end on January 1, which allows the team to register new players in the winter transfer window, with Lass already impressing among the Spanish top flight.

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It was confirmed by ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan last week that Barcelona made €608 million in revenue from 2014-15, with club vice-president Susana Monje proclaiming January funds are available:

"We can sign and shall make an effort to do so, but we have to be prudent. The club has made profits, it is solid, and that means we can cover the players' salaries."

Lass would certainly fit in with the more "prudent" approach, but the 23-year-old could still provide good cover in the midst of Barca's recent injuries.

The Guinea international's displays have seemingly left an impression far and wide, too, after Walsall left-back Rico Henry voiced his appreciation of the Rayo star's talents:

Lass' recent flair-up with manager Jemez may help in convincing Rayo to sell their player during the winter transfer market, with Barca already set to welcome Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal into their squad.

The Catalan giants may start planning for the future, too, after Spanish expert Guillem Balague appeared on talkSPORT's Sports Bar, where he revealed Messi is the closest he's ever been to the Barcelona exit:

"

He’s never been closer to leaving Barcelona, he is thinking about it. He has heard from Sergio Aguero and Cesc Fabregas how wonderful England and the Premier League is. There’s an attraction there for a new challenge.

He’s maturing, he wants to imagine himself in England and he watches the Premier League. He’s learning English in case he needs it. He is preparing for that possibility.

"

There could in fact be no direct link between Messi's decision to pick up English and any alleged transfer motivation, but the transfer rumour mill has been spun once again in light of the news.

According to Spanish outlet Cope, Messi has opened up to the possibility of leaving Spain in the wake of the €4.1 million tax fraud both he and his father have been accused of (via Independent's Tom Sheen).

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Barcelona have been forced to make do without their talisman in light of his recent injury, and manager Luis Enrique will assuredly have been pleased to see Luis Suarez and Neymar step up in his absence.

Spanish football writer Rafael Hernandez isn't buying into speculation the Blaugrana need to sell in order to balance their books, either:

After playing the whole of his 11 professional years with the club so far, it's hard to imagine Messi turning out anywhere except the Camp Nou, but we live in an era where money often makes the seemingly impossible less so.

The Premier League's elite would likely contest the biggest transfer bidding war in history if Messi were to become available.