First fortnight in January 'the most dangerous' for the NHS if there's too much Christmas easing, warns mayor

straight to your inboxLionel Messi has not held talks with any potential suitors about a transfer despite speculation over his future at Barcelona, according to reports.Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for the Argentinian star, who is unhappy at the Nou Camp and tried to leave last summer. Messi's current deal expires in the summer, meaning he can speak to other clubs about a pre-contract agreement from January 1.

Blossoms have unveiled a new, animated short film, Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose).

Perrie Edwards gave fans a treat after showing off her Christmas decorations, and in turn also the star’s incredible home.The Little Mix star lives in Manchester with her footballer boyfriend, Liverpool ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. While Alex is away, the star invited her friends over for some festive fun The trio uploaded the results to Perrie’s TikTok showing off her swanky pad at the same time.

A Grand Life, Heard, where some of Greater Manchester's most inspiring older residents tell their tales.

will take place this year. But while many fans of the markets were delighted to hear they'll return in some capacity yesterday, there have been many raised eyebrows and criticisms of the decision to go ahead.

straight to your inbox every day for freeSo much of the momentum Manchester United ended last season with disappeared in the early weeks of the new campaign, but that is especially true of a midfield partnership that looked so thrilling back in the heady days of summer.Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes started 10 of United's final 13 games in all competitions, often with Nemanja Matic providing some solidity alongside them, and it clicked immediately.After Fernandes' stunning impact on arrival at

Christmas dinners, restaurant meet-ups and annual Christmas Eve trips to the pub with old friends. But with the current restrictions imposed on Greater Manchester in the harshest tier of the government's latest covid alert system - it's hard to feel festive.

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City evening headlines for Sunday, November 29. Gerard Pique has urged Manchester City transfer target Lionel Messi not to walk out of Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season.

straight to your inboxMicah Richards feels John Stones has taken his chance in Manchester City's defence. A combination of injuries and poor form saw the centre-back fall out of favour under Pep Guardiola in recent seasons but the hectic nature of this campaign has seen Stones play more regularly, and he started against Olympiacos and Burnley.

straight to your inboxGerard Pique has urged Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona, insisting that the club will do everything it can to convince the superstar attacker to sign a new contract.The 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer and can discuss terms of a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January.He has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City and the Blues believe they would be at the front of the queue to land him were he to leave Catalonia.

straight to your inboxLa Liga president Javier Tebas admits the Spanish league are working on provisional plans to account for any drop in revenue if Lionel Messi leaves Barcelona.Messi came close to ending his long association with Barcelona in the summer, but decided to stay to avoid a costly legal battle with the club he loves. Manchester City were strongly linked with Messi's signature at the time and view themselves as front-runners to land the Argentine were he to leave Catalonia.

straight to your inboxManchester City's Christmas schedule has been confirmed, as well as their upcoming Premier League games which include a Manchester derby at Old Trafford.City will face Manchester United in the first Premier League derby of the season, looking to avenge their two defeats in the league to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side last season. That game has been moved to the evening kick-off on Saturday December 12, with kick off at 5.30pm.

former Princess Road/Medlock roundabout underneath the Mancunian Way to improve traffic flow.

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City evening headlines for Friday, November 20.Pep Guardiola's 'addictive' approach and winning style was enough to convince Manchester City to agree a new two-year contract for the manager. That is according to City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain, who predicted that the future is bright with Guardiola at the helm until 2023.

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola wants Lionel Messi to finish his career in Barcelona, despite speculation linking Manchester City with a fresh move for the Argentine playmaker.

straight to your inbox every day, freeWest Brom boss Slaven Bilic is under no illusions about the size of his team's task at Old Trafford on Saturday night.Manchester United host the Baggies looking for their first home Premier League win of the season, at the fifth attempt. United are desperately trying to eradicate inconsistencies in their form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this term and build on an excellent win at Everton before the international break.

straight to your inboxWith the news that Pep Guardiola is extending his stay as Manchester City manager, the Blues are once again being linked with Lionel Messi.City fans were hopeful of completing a sensational move for Messi over a two-week period in the summer when he announced his intention to leave Barcelona, but the Argentine ultimately opted to stay to avoid a costly legal battle over his contract.