Barcelona vice president Eduard Romeu has said Lionel Messi's return to the club as a player would be financially possible next summer.

Messi will be a free agent next summer after his two-year deal with PSG expires. 

"It would be possible financially because if he returned, it would be as a free agent," Romeu told Catalunya Radio on Wednesday when asked whether the club could afford to bring Messi back.

"But it's a decision which has to be made by the coaching staff and the player. It doesn't correspond to me [to make those decisions], but it would be viable."

Watford has fired Rob Edwards after 11 matches in charge and has appointed Slaven Bilic as his replacement.

Bilic has been out of work since leaving Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan in January. Bilic previously managed in the Premier League with West Brom and West Ham. Bilic helped lead West Brom back from the Championship to the Premier League in 2020.

Watford’s owner, Gino Pozzo, said: “As with all decisions taken by the board, I believe this change to be in the best interests of the club. We felt Rob had enough time to show us the identity of his team, however performances haven’t reflected our hopes and ambitions.

“Now we must move forward, and, in Slaven Bilic, we have secured the services of an experienced coach who has recent experience of promotion to the Premier League.”

Cristiano Ronaldo plans to continue playing for Portugal beyond this year's World Cup, indicating he wants to compete at Euro 2024.

"I hope to be part of the Federation for a few more years," he added. "I still feel motivated; my ambition is high. I'm in a team with young people. I want to be part of this World Cup and the European too; I'm going to assume that right away."

Marco Asensio declined the opportunity to rule out a move to Barcelona next summer when his contract with Real Madrid expires.

Asensio hasn't ruled out extending his deal with Madrid, but no talks have taken place to date.

"Honestly, I don't know if they have called," Asensio told Spanish radio station Cope when asked if he was aware of Barca's interest.

"A lot of other clubs have been linked [with me] as well. But it's normal because in seven months, well, from January actually, I am free to speak to other teams."

Asensio has made 239 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 50 goals, and won three league titles and three Champions Leagues, among other trophies.

Nice are attempting to hire Mauricio Pochettino as manager to replace Lucien Favre. 

Sources have said Nice owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the richest man in the UK, is considering sacking the Swiss manager and that Pochettino is the first-choice candidate to replace him.

Sources have said it is unlikely Pochettino would prioritize a return to France after his preivous experience as manager of PSG.

Pochettino was on the shortlist for jobs at Manchester United and Chelsea this summer but Erik ten Hag and Graham Potter were appointed ahead of him.

The Premier League broke its own record for the most money spent during a summer transfer window at $2.2 billion, while a number of top clubs from La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga made major moves as well.

Top-15 Transfer Fees Of 2022 Summer Window

1. Antony: Ajax to Manchester United, $104.5 million

2. Aurélien Tchouameni: Monaco to Real Madrid, $88.0 million

3. Darwin Nunez: Benfica to Liverpool, $82.5 million

4. Casemiro: Real Madrid to Manchester United, $77.7 million

5. Matthijs de Ligt: Juventus to Bayern, $73.7 million

6. Erling Haaland: Dortmund to Manchester City, $66.0 million

7. Richarlison: Everton to Tottenham, $63.8 million

8. Raphinha: Leeds to Barcelona, $63.8 million

9. Lisandro Martinez: Ajax to Manchester United, $63.1 million

10. Raheem Sterling: Manchester City to Chelsea, $61.8 million

11. Gabriel Jesus: Manchester City to Arsenal, $57.5 million

12. Kalvin Phillips: Leeds to Manchester City, $53.6 million

13. Robert Lewandowski: Bayern to Barcelona, $49.5 million

14. Federico Chiesa: Fiorentina to Juventus, $44.0 million

15. Nuno Mendes: Sporting to Paris Saint-Germain, $41.8 million

Chelsea have hired Graham Potter as manager to replace Thomas Tuchel.

Potter joins from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Potter joins Chelsea on a five-year deal, with sources telling ESPN that Chelsea have paid a fee in the region of £16 million ($18.42 million) to release him from his Brighton contract.

Chelsea has fired Thomas Tuchel as manager following their 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. Chelsea is expected to pursue Graham Potter of Brighton as their next manager. Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane are also on Chelsea's short list. 

Chelsea have spent a record £266 million in one window to bring in Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among others. 

Todd Boehly learned that some senior players were unhappy with Tuchel’s tactics and is keen to make his own appointment. Tuchel and Boehly had all but stopped communicating. 

Chelsea has bought Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona for €14 million.

Aubameyang previously played in the Premier League for Arsenal. 

“It’s an honor to be part of this team and I can’t wait to start,” Aubameyang said. “I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it’s good to be back and really exciting.”

Aubameyang had moved to Barcelona at the very end of last season’s winter window after being forced out by the manager, Mikel Arteta, and he scored 13 goals in 23 appearances for the club before the end of the campaign. 

Manchester United decided to keep Cristiano Ronaldo until at least January after the summer transfer deadline passed without a move.

Ronaldo was keen to leave United this summer because of his preference to play in the Champions League.

Ronaldo had been linked with a host of clubs including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Napoli.

Following the win over the Foxes, manager Erik ten Hag said: "As we said [he has stayed]. It is really early in the season. We have a squad, more than 11 starting players and that is what you see now. Players on the bench can play in two to three weeks."