Lionel Messi's father provides update on Man City links ahead of Barcelona contract talks

straight to your inbox Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards have both insisted that Manchester City need to sign another centre-back to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title this season. Pep Guardiola's side have brought in Nathan Ake from Bournemouth but are still actively pursuing another defender.

straight to your inbox Manchester City will kick their new Premier League season off on Monday when they travel to Wolves. It was only last month when City's previous campaign came to a crushing end with a 3-1 defeat to Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Pep Guardiola will need to lift his team ahead of what is set to be a gruelling year.

straight to your inbox Diego Carlos has no plans to leave Sevilla this summer, despite reported transfer interest from Manchester City. Carlos is one of the names supposedly under consideration by City as an alternative to Kalidou Koulibaly, as negotiations drag on with Napoli.

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.

straight to your inbox Sergio Ramos has urged Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona for the sake of Spanish football. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has asked to leave the La Liga giants this summer.Manchester City are the bookmakers' favourites to sign Messi, although it remains unclear what fee any potential suitors would have to pay for the Argentine superstar.

straight to your inboxLionel Messi could remain at Barcelona for another season, his father has admitted, after holding talks with the club to attempt to resolve his contract dispute. Jorge Messi, who is his son's agent, yesterday told reporters that it would be 'difficult' for Lionel to remain at Barcelona, saying he had not spoken to Manchester City or Pep Guardiola about a potential move.

straight to your inboxFor a week, there hasn't been a lot Manchester City have been able to say or do about Lionel Messi.His transfer request last Tuesday kickstarted a global circus with all roads pointing towards the Etihad, but their position hasn't significantly changed from all the other times they have been linked with him: of course they will sign him if it is possible, but they are still not certain that it is.Even if the encouragement from the events of the last week has been enough to

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 inboxEric Garcia expects to return to Manchester City despite telling the club he will not sign a deal beyond the end of his contract that expires next summer.Having been developing under Pep Guardiola since leaving the Barcelona academy in 2017, 19-year-old Garcia flourished in the second half of last season and became the preferred partner for Aymeric Laporte in the first 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 inbox Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa expects Lionel Messi to join Manchester City in a move that he thinks could be liberating for the Catalan club. Messi is currently involved in a standoff with the club he has played at for his entire career, with the 33-year-old having failed to show up for pre-season as he attempts to leave the Nou Camp.

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 inbox La Liga have weighed into the dispute over Lionel Messi's contract at Barcelona by indicating that he will not be allowed to leave for free. There is uncertainty over how much, if anything, Manchester City will have to pay for sign the player.

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 .