Lionel Messi transfer news: Barcelona forward linked with £800,000-a-week move to Manchester City

City also hope that securing Messi from Barcelona will boost their chances of signing Pep Guardiola as manager

Manchester City are hopeful of securing a double-swoop in the summer after sanctioning an incredible deal worth £800,000-a-week to try and sign Lionel Messi in a bid to lure Pep Guardiola to the Etihad as manager.

Messi’s future remains one of the most talked about subjects in football, despite the Barcelona forward showing no signs of discontent at the Nou Camp. However, the Sun reports that Messi has been privately put out by the club’s desire to secure Neymer’s contract before his own, and that has alerted officials at City to a possible move in the summer.

The report adds that initial talks have already been held between Messi’s representatives and City, although Messi’s hefty wage demands would set City back a whopping £40m-a-year – not to mention the near £200m transfer fee that is being reported.

28-year-old Messi remains good friends with Neymar after they formed a lethal trio along with Luis Suarez that tore Real Madrid apart last weekend. But it’s Messis’ desire that has led to his apparent unhappiness, and it’s fuelled City’s belief that they can bring him to the Premier League at the end of the season.

With the new Premier League TV deal set to come in next year – which will boost the coffers of whoever wins the title by £150m – City will have the financial firepower and Financial Fair Play allowance from Uefa to launch the move.

It’s hoped that should Messi show signs of a move to the Etihad, current Bayern Munich head coach Guardiola will be tempted to run down his contract and leave the Allianz Arena at the end of the season in a bid to replace Manuel Pellegrini.

Bayern are keen to open talks next month with Guardiola with a view to extending his contract beyond the end of the season for another two years, although City will try and persuade him elsewhere should they decide to axe Chilean Pellegrini in the summer.

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is out of contract in the summer (Getty Images)

The Bundesliga champions are determined to have Guardiola’s future settled by Christmas, and despite talk of a move to the Premier League with either Arsenal, Chelsea or City, Bayern are growing increasingly confident that the former Barcelona manager will still be in charge of the German league champions come next season.