From Wythenshawe to Crumpsall, mass housebuilding to scientific discovery - Manchester’s £800m recipe for Covid recovery

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.

direct to your inboxCoronavirus has brought heartache to thousands of families across Greater Manchester.More than 3,800 people have died in our region's hospitals alone. And tragically, this number is continuing to rise.Behind the Covid-19 death statistics that we publish each day are human beings who all had stories to tell.

direct to your inboxFrom the man who killed his 'best friend for 20 years' after slamming into roundabout at 'over 100mph' - to the 'Iceman' Mark Fellows who was handed another life sentence for gangland attack before he murdered Salford's 'Mr Big' Paul Massey, these are some of the criminals locked up in November.The region's courts have given out hefty prison sentences for all manner of crimes last month with M.E.N.

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 inbox every day for freeManchester United will be aiming to keep their winning streak alive when they travel to Southampton on Sunday.United have responded well to recent disappointing defeats by Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir by beating Everton and West Brom in the league and mauling Basaksehir in the reverse Champions League fixture.

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.

hereMeanwhile figures presented to the city’s last executive meeting, earlier this month, show footfall in the city centre was less than half that of the same time last year.

criminal offences  with M.E.N. reporters there to cover the most serious.

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 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.

straight to your inboxHere are your Manchester City evening headlines for Tuesday, November 17.La Liga president aims Man City digLa Liga president Javier Tebas has taken another dig at Manchester City, claiming the club do not compete within the rules of financial fair play amid a potential deal for Lionel Messi. The Argentine star is in the final year of his contract with Barcelona and was linked with a move to the Etihad in the summer transfer window.

straight to your inbox every day, freePaul Pogba has been criticised by Micah Richards for his 'disrespectful' comments made while on international duty with France this week.The World Cup winner stated representing Les Bleus was a 'breath of fresh air' amid one of the toughest periods in his career.

coronavirus. Lara Scott, who has no underlying health conditions, spent six days in intensive care battling Covid-19.She had two gruelling spells in hospital as her body fought against the virus and then the effects of the medication.At one point her worried parents at home in Alsager, Cheshire, were warned that she may not pull though.Now Lara - who was 19 when she was first admitted in early October - is warning her peers to take the virus seriously as she continues to suffer from fatigue.

straight to your inboxIt's no surprise that as the January transfer window approaches, Manchester City 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.When confirming his decision to stay, Messi made it clear he remained unhappy with Barcelona and that he

and a full inquest into the circumstances is to be held at a later date.The atmosphere then turned angry last week when the university installed metal fencing and new security 'check points' around the Fallowfield halls of residence.The university said the 'security measures' were necessary as part of the national four-week lockdown.However, students said they felt they were being treated like prisoners, with one parent telling the M.E.N they had been 'penned in like animals.'Within hours, the