Today’s edition of our City Media Watch will quench your thirst for rumour.
It’s too soon for pre-match build-up so the media outlets of the world have turned their attentions to the January transfer window and its potential switches.
You will not be surprised to know there are some familiar names in the pot – one in particular who you may have noticed has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium once or twice…
Yes, it’s Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.
According to the Daily Star, City are ‘preparing a £357million bid’ for the Argentine ace.
Claims Luke Gardener: “Pep Guardiola is looking for a reunion with the Argentina superstar to take City to the next level.
“Spanish outlet AS claim sources close to City have held ‘serious conversations’ with Messi’s representatives.
“The Barca ace is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to sign a new deal at the Nou Camp.
“Back in July the La Liga giants announced Messi had agreed to a contract running until 2021.
“But that turned out not to be the case with the forward looking to amend certain aspects of the agreement.
“And now AS say the possibility of Messi not signing a new deal should not be ruled out.
“City are ready to break the transfer world-record to bring the 30-year-old to the Etihad.
“But it might be difficult to persuade Messi to move with the Argentine said to be happy at Barca and his wife not keen on uprooting her family.”
Meanwhile, the same source also report the Blues are monitoring Liverpool and Chelsea target Faouzi Ghoulam, in lieu of Benjamin Mendy’s long-term injury.
Writes Marc Williams: “The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is free to speak to potential suitors over a free transfer next summer.
“But The Sun say City believe that can land him for just £3m in January and are willing to hand him wages of £90,000-a-week with a hefty signing-on bonus.
“Liverpool and Chelsea are also reportedly keen on the Serie A star who is looking for a new challenge rather than extend his terms in Italy.
“City are looking to hold talks with Napoli after they face each other in the Champions League at the Etihad next week.”
Elsewhere, Sports Mole suggest City are ready to meet Sergi Roberto’s £36million release clause.
Daniel Lewis states: “The 25-year-old emerged as a rumoured target for the Citizens earlier this year after impressing with his versatility at Camp Nou, where he can slot in at midfield or right-back.
“According to The Sun, Guardiola is ready to push ahead with his plans to sign Roberto in January as he attempts to further bolster his squad for the second half of the campaign.
“Roberto, who missed out on a place in Spain’s latest squad for qualifiers against Albania and Israel, has featured over 150 times for Barcelona since breaking into the first team in 2010 under Guardiola.
“Barca boss Ernesto Valverde claimed in August that Roberto remains a key part of his plans, amid rumours at the time that he wanted out of Catalonia.”
Finally, former Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi has spoken of his admiration for Guardiola, declaring his Catalan counterpart has taken Total Football to new levels.
Quoted in the Mirror, the man who revolutionised the game at AC Milan with his pressing style, purred: “He has carried forward total football even more.
“He is adding to it, making it better. He is a great coach and Manchester City play in his way with a real style.
“We’re friends. We’ve known each other for a long time. He came to see how I worked when I was at Real Madrid.
“He’s an obsessive; a perfectionist… He thinks deeply about football. He’s one of the top ten coaches since the 1950s who have contributed to the evolution of football.
“He’s in the tradition of Ajax’s Rinus Michels and [Johan] Cruyff. My football is a belief in total football. It comes from Ajax.
“Guardiola once said to me: ‘I owe everything to you and Cruyff’. I said to him: ‘Without Rinus Michels, there would have been no Cruyff and no Guardiola today.
“Guardiola and [Napoli manager Maurizio] Sarri don’t think of football as only being about fighting spirit but passion and creativity, where the beauty of the game accentuates the victory.
“I watched Chelsea versus Manchester City and it seemed like a different sport. It was an extraordinary match – one of the best I’ve ever seen. Fantastic.
“In my next life, I want to coach in England!”
