Manchester City are reportedly hoping to complete a deal to bring Lionel Messi to the Premier League and will lure the world’s best player with an eye-watering £800,000-a-week contract. With rumours of his former Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola tempted to switch Bayern Munich for the Etihad at the end of the season, City’s wealthy Arab owners are dreaming of the ultimate reunion.

Messi has just returned from a six-week injury layoff; as a second half substitute in the clásico victory against Real Madrid and then with a starring role in the 6-1 demolition of Roma in the Champions League. The 28-year-old has never publically displayed any discontent at the Camp Nou but there are tabloid reports that suggest the Argentina captain is disappointed with the club prioritising the renewal of Neymar’s contract over his own.

With this in mind, the same reports claim that Manchester City have made contact with Messi’s representatives and on top of a world record transfer fee of close to £200 million, the Citizens would pay an astonishing £800,000-a-week salary.

British tabloid The Sun claims: “Messi’s representatives have had initial discussions about joining City which could see him sign a deal worth around £40 million a year – £32 million for playing with the rest paid in image rights and bonuses.”

This rumour is in addition to the news from Spanish radio that Pep Guardiola will not renew his current deal with Bayern Munich and will instead opt to replace Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager. The German champions remain confident that Guardiola will remain at the Allianz but City certainly have the financial muscle to carry out such fantastical transfer moves.

With the January transfer window approaching, it is the season for the far-fetched gossip and for as long as this story remains solely in the british tabloid press it is probably fair to say that this is nothing more than a tool to sell copy.