Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola Transfer Rumours Increased by Manchester City Deal

Manchester City will promise Pep Guardiola an unprecedented war-chest of money to spend on new players if he joins the Sky Blues next season, affording him the chance to tempt Lionel Messi to the Premier League.

David Anderson of the Mirror reported owner Sheikh Mansour's sale of 13 per cent of the club's parent company, City Football Group, to Chinese investors "will go towards players."

The £265 million generated by the surprise deal will be ring-fenced to invest back into the squad, allowing Guardiola to bid for Messi if he arrives from Bayern Munich. City have already recorded their revenue for this year, and this is expected to inflate next year when the Premier League's latest TV deal kicks in, per Anderson.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

A spokesman for the Sky Blues reassured fans the owner has no intention of ending his association with the club, despite selling a stake in the business, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News' James Robson (h/t the Mirror): “This is really significant for our supporters—this is not the beginning of the end. We have not gone out looking for investors. There has been interest before and we’ve not gone down that route. This is a strategic move.”

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also backed the deal, and said, per Robson:

"

Football is the most loved, played and watched sport in the world and in China, the exponential growth pathway for the game is both unique and hugely exciting.

We have therefore worked hard to find the right partners and to create the right deal structure to leverage the incredible potential that exists in China, both for CFG and for football at large.

"

Alexander Hassenstein/Associated Press

Guardiola has been a raging success at Bayern after his years with Barcelona, and the Germans will not want to lose a coach widely regarded as one of the best in Europe. 

The Spaniard has maintained his club's untouchable standing in the Bundesliga, as Bayern mimic the typical principles of the Blaugrana's philosophy. 

Der FCB attacker Arjen Robben has proclaimed the club must try to hold onto Guardiola, despite the manager's contract expiring at the end of the season, as reported by Joe Strange of the MailOnline: "We have one of the best coaches in the world. As many of our players have said, we all want him to stay. It is a lot of fun working with him. Tactically he is maybe the best. And I don't say that just because he is our coach at the moment."

Strange added Guardiola would prefer to join Manchester United if he departs the Allianz Arena, but there is no doubt City have the financial power to tempt the coach to the Etihad Stadium, especially after the news of the recent investment deal. 

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones understands there is substance behind the rumours linking Guardiola and Messi joining City:

Pete Jenson of the MailOnline reported Barcelona are struggling to put together a new deal for Messi in light of interest from the Premier League, as the club's wage bill currently stands at a staggering 73 per cent of their revenue.

Neymar's future at Barca is under risk for the same reason, and Jenson claimed either player could end up signing for City as a result, with United also in the picture.

The Sky Blues have struggled to make an impact in Europe, despite having a billionaire owner at the centre of the club, and the next logical step would be to attract a manager of Guardiola's status.

He would have the pulling power to attract the best players in the world, and turn City into a more holistic proposition for the likes of Messi. 

City have already spent big on talent such as Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, but they are not the final pieces in the jigsaw puzzle.

Guardiola and Messi would be an irresistible combination for the football club, and they would surely see City capture the first Champions League title in their history.