Manchester City Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of December 29

The disappointment was palpable. Manchester City threw away a two-goal lead against Burnley on Sunday and with it went their chance to close the gap to a single point on Premier League leaders Chelsea.

However, the context suggests disappointment is somewhat unnecessary. City are in the midst of an 11-game unbeaten run which has turned their season around. They will head into 2015 full of confidence, with a title defence well on a track and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League secured.

January offers them the opportunity to make additions to their squad, should manager Manuel Pellegrini and director of football Txiki Begiristain feel they need added impetus. There's bound to be plenty of talk about potential incomings and outgoings, all of which will be captured here.

City Tracking Wonderkid Martin Odegaard

Colin Harvey of the Daily Star wrote that Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian teen sensation, is yet to agree terms with Bayern Munich, allowing City an opportunity to swoop in and make a move.

When Odegaard turned 16 earlier this month, it was expected Bayern would announce a deal, but as of yet, nothing has been made official.

City and their local rivals Manchester United have shown the player around their facilities, per Norwegian outlet VG (h/t the Daily Star), making it clear they want to finalise an agreement. There has been interest from a host of other top clubs, too.

City Still Targeting Barcelona's Messi

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In the Daily Star, Bruce Archer wrote about City's ongoing interest in signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona, a move that could cost the club as much as £200 million.

Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, the masterminds behind City's transfer strategy, both know Messi from their time working at Barcelona, and Archer believes they are confident in bringing him to the Etihad.