This would actually be a good deal... for Barcelona?
Manchester City really want Lionel Messi, that much is clear. Ever since he informed the club of his intentions to leave this summer, all signs have pointed towards Manchester and a reunion with Pep Guardiola.
The pair have reportedly already been in contact and City are understood to be working out a financial plan to make the deal happen.
ESPN in Spain reported on Wednesday that City would be willing to offer €150m plus Eric Garcia and Angeliño for Messi, but a report from Catalan paper on Thursday is claiming that the Premier League club are willing to go one step further.
Sport claim that City will offer Barcelona a fee of €100 million as well as Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Eric Garcia in exchange for the 33-year-old.
Player plus cash deals are always very complex deals to pull off due to the number of people involved and the number of details that have to be ironed out in everyone's contracts. But regardless of whether this will be the final deal, City's intent is clear: sign Messi at all costs.
While Barcelona are fighting tooth and nail to keep hold of the greatest player of all time, the club are in need of a rebuild, as was cruelly demonstrated during their 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich and in previous Champions League defeats.
Bringing in three young talents like the aforementioned City trio would be a good start towards their mission of building a new squad.
It should be noted that City would only make this offer if Barcelona win the internal battle against Messi regarding his release clause.
Messi's camp claim he has a clause in his contract that allows him to walk away for free this summer, but the club dispute its validation, claiming it expired in June. Messi's camp have argued that it was extended in line with the prolonged season.
Once that is ironed out, the ball should start rolling.
