The winter transfer window is closed, but now it's time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.

TOP STORY: LA Galaxy enquire about Messi availability

It's been fairly well documented by now, but things haven't exactly been going smoothly between Barcelona and Lionel Messi in the past weeks and months. Two weeks ago, an outburst on Instagram raised the possibility of him leaving the club.

But where would he go? Manchester City? A return to boyhood club Newell's Old Boys? If a report from Argentine broadcaster Radio Continental is to be believed, his destination could be MLS side LA Galaxy.

The report states that Galaxy manager and former Boca Juniors star Guillermo Barros Schelotto reached out to Messi's father Jorge to see how strained his son's relationship with Barcelona had become, and if there was a possibility of making a change.

LA Galaxy reportedly enquired about Lionel Messi's interest in moving to MLS. Francois Nel/Getty Images

Messi's contract reportedly features an exit clause that allows him to leave the Catalan at the end of each season, which would leave him free to join the Galaxy -- or any other club -- this summer. The only hitch is that the Los Angeles club already have three Designated Players in Javier Hernandez, Cristian Pavon and Jonathan dos Santos, meaning the five-time MLS Cup champions would have to get creative in finding ways to fit Messi under the league's salary cap.

Champions League qualification could shape Man United recruitment

Just three points separate Manchester United from fourth-placed Chelsea, who occupy the Premier League's fourth and final Champions League qualification place, and the Red Devils' Monday night win over the Londoners may just have given them the momentum to catch and pass their great rivals for a place in Europe's premier club competition.

And for the sake of this summer's recruitment drive, doing so is vital.

The Athletic reports that United's months-long pursuit of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho could come down to whether the English giants qualify for the Champions League. Their inability to offer participation in that tournament cost them the opportunity to sign Erling Haaland in January, who coincidentally netted a brace for Dortmund on Tuesday in their Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.

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The good news for Man United is that they have additional targets in attack, those who won't be quite as particular about which level of European football they'd be playing come autumn. Jack Grealish is reportedly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's No. 1 target this summer, and the 24-year-old wouldn't be influenced by whether or not there will be Champions League football at Old Trafford next season.

Man United identify technical director candidates

There could soon be someone other than executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward dictating transfer strategy at Manchester United, according to the Independent. The publication reports that two names on the Red Devils' shortlist for their new technical director position are Antero Henrique and Ralf Rangnick.

Henrique spent 26 years at Porto, the last 11 in charge of the Dragoes' first-team construction. The 51-year-old has been out of work since June, when he left his position as sporting director at PSG, and is said to be in advanced negotiations to take on the role at Old Trafford.

However, there are senior figures at the club who prefer Rangnick, Red Bull's head of sport. The 61-year-old prefers his next career move to take him to the Premier League, which is lucky for the United hierarchy, with AC Milan also reportedly interested in his services.

Tap-ins

- Chelsea youngster Samuel Iling-Junior could leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Football Insider reports. The 16-year-old is said to be one of the most promising talents to come through Cobham, and with his contract expiring in the summer, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Ajax and Schalke are queuing up to take the winger abroad for a cut-price fee.