Barcelona Transfer News: Lionel Messi, Neymar Fears Amid Premier League Rumours

Barcelona's dire financial situation puts them at serious risk of losing top stars Lionel Messi and Neymar to the riches of the Premier League.  

Pete Jenson of the MailOnline reported on Tuesday the club are struggling to muster the funds to secure the pair on long-term deals amid interest from the wealthy and far more financially stable Manchester United and Manchester City.

Jenson's report shared in great detail just how desperate the club's position is, noting: "The club’s wage bill currently stands at an unsustainable 73 percent of revenue. That breaks the club’s own self-imposed financial regulations and the board will have to quit in two years if the ratio is not reduced."

Further, the excessive bonuses dished out to players and staff alike for each Champions League win means that staggeringly—even with the financial rewards they received for winning it—the club, in fact, operated at a loss in the competition last season.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Messi, naturally, played a key role in helping the Blaugrana to a historic treble last season as they also lifted the league title and the Copa del Rey—for which he earned an extra £2.8 million on top of the £14.8 million net earnings he already receives each year.

The pair are the club's most marketable players and equally their most important on the pitch, too. Squawka Football illustrated the incredible form they've shown this year alone, just in La Liga:

Football journalist Sid Lowe also noted how they, along with Luis Suarez, are greater than the sum of their considerable parts:

Obviously, losing either would be simply disastrous, and the club recognise that, with president Josep Maria Bartomeu remaining "adamant that neither will be sold."

As such, the club are frantically attempting to generate more revenue with Jenson reporting the Catalan giants are hoping to push for a more lucrative sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways, renegotiate their deal with Nike and sell the naming rights to the Camp Nou Stadium, as well as "making cuts elsewhere," such as in the transfer market.

However, their desire for more money has proved a stumbling block in their negotiations with Qatar Airways, meaning there is not yet a sponsor confirmed for next season. Further, Barca's current deal with Nike lasts until 2018—so there may be little incentive for the brand to engage in negotiations until it's up for renewal.

Also, it will be difficult to acquire Paul Pogba and John Stones—reported as transfer targets by Jenson—on a tight budget, with the former potentially set to cost over £70 million.

Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images

Jenson also noted the club are hoping to finance a lengthy £423 million renovation of the Camp Nou, which, among other things, would see the capacity increase to 105,000.

For a club of the Blaugrana's profile, it seems unthinkable the organisation won't be able to secure a sponsorship deal for next season that can provide them with a healthy flow of revenue, whether it be with Qatar Airways or another company.

However, unless either Messi or Neymar are willing to maintain the status quo when renegotiating their new deals in the coming months—not inconceivable given their love for the club but highly unlikely at best—the transfer market seems like the most obvious casualty in Barca's fight to keep them.

As much as the likes of Stones and Pogba could improve them, they may well have to forgo pursuing one or both of them in order to afford the stars already at the Camp Nou.

The club have had great success relying on their La Masia academy in the past, and with players such as Sergi Roberto and Alen Halilovic growing in stature all the time, they could be ready to step up in place of a marquee midfield signing.

More drastically, they may have to delay their plans for the stadium.

Changes are undoubtedly needed as it's abundantly clear the club cannot continue on this unsustainable path—the question becomes how much should they sacrifice in order to keep Messi and Neymar.