Gary Lineker says Lionel Messi transfer would transform Man City instantly amid rumours of Barcelona future

straight to your inbox Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has taken aim at Manchester City by suggesting that only teams who don't 'respect Financial Fair Play' would be able to sign Barcelona icon Lionel Messi. Messi sent the football world into meltdown for a whirlwind two-week period after he informed Barcelona that he wanted to walk away from the club for nothing following the conclusion of the season.

straight to your inboxHere are the latest Manchester City evening headlines for Thursday, September 3. Lionel Messi could still remain at Barcelona according to his father.

Lionel Messi in the Premier League. The Argentina forward has told Barcelona he wants to leave the club this summer and is yet to report for pre-season.Messi is trying to leave the Nou Camp for free although La Liga have supported Barcelona's case that any departure would have to be triggered by paying his £630million release clause.Manchester City are the favourites amongst most bookmakers to sign Messi and reunite with Pep Guardiola.

straight to your inbox Eric Garcia said, with a smile, that Manchester City players have not discussed the prospect of Lionel Messi completing a sensational move to the Premier League side but that he would be a welcome addition to any team.

straight to your inboxThe president of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez, has urged Lionel Messi to reject a potential move to Manchester City in favour of joining Newell's Old Boys.Messi failed to report for coronavirus testing at Barcelona's training complex yesterday as he continues his battle to leave the club.The Argentine’s decision not to attend means he will be unable to participate in Ronald Koeman's first training session today.Messi has told the Barcelona hierarchy last week that he wants

straight to your inboxBarcelona will demand £250m for Lionel Messi and have identified the player they want to replace him, according to the latest reports.Manchester City continue to be linked with Messi, who failed to attend pre-season testing at Barcelona on Sunday as the dispute over his contract continues.

straight to your inboxHere are the Manchester City morning headlines for Sunday, August 30. Barcelona will not accept any Manchester City players in exchange for Lionel Messi, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo .

straight to your inbox Manchester City were given another boost in their pursuit of Lionel Messi after the forward failed to show at the Barcelona training ground for tests ahead of pre-season. Ronald Koeman and the rest of the squad were pictured arriving at the complex on Sunday morning but there was no sign of Messi at his allotted time or for an hour afterwards as the fallout between player and club continues.

Manchester City are the most likely Premier League destination for Messi, who played under Pep Guardiola for four years between 2008 and 2012, with a deal to take him to Manchester United implausible. Neville still doubts Messi will actually leave Barcelona this summer but thinks a transfer to City will be the outcome if he decides to move to England.

straight to your inboxHere are your Manchester City headlines for the evening of Saturday August 29.Next 48 hours crucial for Messi’s futureThe next 48 hours could help to decide Lionel Messi’s future, reports the MEN’s Stuart Brennan.Having dropped a bombshell on Barcelona by handing in a transfer request earlier this week, Messi has now asked for an urgent meeting with the club hierarchy.

straight to your inboxBarcelona are not willing to accept any Manchester City players in exchange for Lionel Messi this summer, according to reports.News broke earlier this week that Messi wants to leave the Spanish giants on the back of their humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

straight to your inboxSome Manchester City fans believe Lionel Messi is definitely on his way to the Etihad this summer after Pep Guardiola was spotted in Barcelona on Friday.News broke earlier this week that Messi wants to call time on his Barcelona career following their disappointing end to the season, which saw them lose out to Real Madrid in the La Liga title race and also lose 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.City are one of the few clubs that could realistically

straight to your inbox A football agent who helped to take Lionel Messi to Barcelona claims it is “90 per cent” sure that the player will stay at the Nou Camp. Manchester City are awaiting the outcome of the player's attempts to extricate himself from the club, which will hit a crucial phase in the next 48 hours.

straight to your inbox Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp doubts that Lionel Messi will play in the Premier League amid the possibility of him moving to Manchester City. Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave the club earlier this week and City are the favourites to land him if he does follow through with his desire to quit the Nou Camp.

straight to your inbox The initial shock of Lionel Messi ’s transfer request has subsided, and now for the grind. Manchester City were the first club on everyone’s lips the moment it became clear that the Barcelona star was not bluffing – as he has in the past – and really seems to have reached the end of his tether with the stagnation at the Nou Camp.

straight to your inbox Manchester City will NOT include Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva or Riyad Mahrez in any deal to bring in Lionel Messi. The Blues could be facing a club record fee to bring in the Barcelona star, and that has led to speculation that they will proffer players as part of a package to land the 33-year-old.

straight to your inbox Lionel Messi would help Manchester City take the next step and win the Champions League, according to former captain Vincent Kompany. Kompany has claimed the pair are likely to still have a 'rapport' and said he imagines the two men have each other's number so they can still speak on the phone.