Manchester City Transfer News: Latest on Lionel Messi, Top Rumours
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has denied any knowledge about a possible deal involving star forward Lionel Messi and Premier League title contenders Manchester City.
Enrique was speaking to reporters on the eve of Barca's upcoming match against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League. He was asked about any bid from City for Messi, according to Ewan Murray of the Guardian: “I don’t know. I have no idea. Lionel is always ready to play and I’m sure he will be ready to face Celtic. He is 100% and eager to give the best version of himself.”
Murray described Enrique as answering the question curtly. Yet despite the manager's seeming distaste for the subject, the rumours linking City with Messi have been gathering momentum recently.
The Sunday Mirror's Simon Mullock recently reported how the Citizens are ready to offer a total package worth more than £200 million to sign Messi next summer: "City bosses are drawing up a plan that will see them pay Barca a world-record transfer fee in excess of £100m as well as handing Messi a basic wage of £500,000-a-week."
Mullock also highlights Messi's current contract as a reason for City's belief they could actually tempt the world's best player away from the Camp Nou. The prolific No. 10's existing deal with Barca includes a buyout clause totalling £215 million, but the agreement runs out in 2018, and Messi has yet to sign fresh terms.
Of course, the motivation of not losing Messi for a reduced fee could prompt a sale sooner. The presence of Pep Guardiola in the City dugout is also an obvious factor in the Citizens' favour.
Guardiola tutored Messi during a phenomenally successful period at Barcelona. The two won a pair of Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles from 2008-12.
However, there are those who believe Barca will still hold the upper hand when it comes to convincing Messi to stay. Among them, Graham Hunter detailed for ESPN FC the complex arrangement Barca have with Messi regarding his contract and any interested parties:
"Messi's contract would be renewed regularly -- almost annually -- based on the club's recognition that he is not only their best-ever player but potentially the best in the history of the game.
Barcelona agreed that he'd not only always be at the top of their salary pyramid, but that they would attempt to make him the world's highest-paid player.
"
Hunter referenced other points about the agreement, conditions involving keeping their squads stocked with enough quality to support Messi's desire to compete for top trophies every year.
It was also stressed by Hunter that City haven't applied pressure on this deal. Instead, they have simply maintained their assurances they want to sign Messi if he's available and willing to move on from Spain's top flight.
Hunter maintains Messi's preference is to remain with the Catalan club. Yet if there's even a slither of hope they can change his mind, City should keep working on their charm offensive.
Italian Defender on City Radar
City are also keeping tabs on a bright young thing in defence, according to reports from Italy. In fact, the Citizens are named along with Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United as being keen on Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara.
That's according to Italian publication La Gazetta Dello Sport (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star). The reports identified Serie A giants Juventus as another primary suitor for 22-year-old Caldara.
This crowded queue of keen clubs have been running the rule over the free-scoring centre-back in recent weeks. Of those interested, City could certainly use a capable and promising central defender.
The position is one of the few obvious question marks in Guardiola's current squad. Big-money summer buy John Stones boasts quality on the ball but remains suspect defensively. Nicolas Otamendi usually partners Stones, but he can be reckless.
It doesn't help that skipper Vincent Kompany still can't shake his injury woes. The Belgian is now set to be out for close to a month with knee ligament damage, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.
Guardiola has been content to play left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in the middle, but he may feel now's the time to find a more permanent solution.
Signing a quality centre-back would address an obvious need in the City squad. The team doesn't obviously need Messi, but no club would turn him down.
.jpg?w=600 "Cards Had Wrong Love Number 😅")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
