Lionel Messi close to signing new deal with Barcelona?

Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with the father of Lionel Messi over a new contract for the superstar forward.

The 29-year-old has endured a few tough weeks following his decision to quit the Argentina national side, while also being handed a lengthy suspended prison sentence for tax fraud.

News of Messi's recent off-field plight is rumoured to have concerned Barcelona chiefs, who are worried of a big-money approach from a fellow European heavyweight to take advantage.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the four-time Ballon d'Or winner will soon put pen to paper on fresh terms to remain in place at Camp Nou beyond the end of his current deal, which is due to expire in 2018.

Messi's father is understood to have accepted the Catalan giants' proposal to prolong the contract after the club stood by their star player with the use of a controversial social media campaign.

The president of the Spanish football league, Javier Tebas, expressed his concerns earlier this month that La Liga could lose Messi to another country following his tax charge.