MANCHESTER CITY have reportedly been handed a boost in their bid to sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
The front page of Spanish outlet AS claims Pep Guardiola has ‘tightened his siege’ on the Argentine who is disgruntled in Catalonia.
Manchester City are gearing up for another move for Barcelona star Lionel MessiCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Reports in Spain claim Pep Guardiola is hopeful of luring the Argentine to England after signing a new contract
City missed out on the Barcelona icon in the summer when he was forced into staying at the Nou Camp to avoid a bitter legal row.
Guardiola claimed he has ‘unfinished business’ at the Man City after signing a new two-year deal – with their hierarchy hoping resolving the Spaniard’s future will open the door to luring Messi.
And SunSport recently revealed that the Premier League giants are considering making a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
Messi, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season and his club bosses are resigned to the fact their legendary striker may quit on a free.
The Argentine’s relationship with Barca is said to be still frosty and the Spanish club are desperate for money amid debts of £437million.
Messi, who is set to make his 800th appearance on Saturday, has struggled to produce his sparkling best this season under new boss Ronald Koeman.
His dip in form followed an amazing public outburst at the club who he claimed were going back on their word to let him leave over the summer, with City waiting in the wings to snap him up.
Messi ultimately lost the power struggle when Barca made it clear they would take legal action to stop him leaving — and since then the relationship between club and player has been cool at best.
And the six-time Ballon d’Or winner recently admitted he is ‘tired of always being the problem’ at the Catalans.
City meanwhile have retained their interest, believing they can lure him to the North West as soon as he is available.
And it is thought that Eric Garcia could be used as a makeweight – with Barca desperate to bring the young defender back to the Nou Camp.
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Man City plot Lionel Messi transfer pursuit when window opens in January after failed summer swoop
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
