Manchester City weighing up offer of two players plus cash for Lionel Messi

If they are unable to get him for free, City will offer two players plus cash

New reports from ESPN in Barcelona claim that Manchester City could offer up to €150million and two players for Lionel Messi, who has informed Barcelona of his desire to leave the club. Both Messi and City are hoping to make the transfer happen for free, citing a clause in Messi's contract which allows him to walk away for no fee. But Barcelona are adamant that the clause has expired and they are within their rights to demand a transfer fee, with his current contract expiring in June 2021 and containing a €700m release clause. Moises Llorens, ESPN reporter in Cataluña, has reported that Messi's camp have consulted several specialists to evaluate his contract to see whether or not he could leave for free, with only one of them suggesting he could. In this case, Manchester City reportedly value Messi somewhere between €100-€150m, and would offer Barcelona a fee in that region as well as young centre-back Eric Garcia and left-back Angeliño, who spent the 19/20 season on loan at RB Leipzig. Garcia has just received his first senior call-up to the Spain squad and featured in City's Champions League defeat to Lyon. Barcelona are hoping to refresh their backline Garcia fits the profile of a long-term replacement for Gerard Piqué, though there has not yet been any indication as to whether Barcelona are keen on the player or not. Similarly, Jordi Alba is one of the players Barcelona are hoping to move on in the squad overhaul and Angeliño would be a good addition at left-back. Manchester City are working all angles to make the deal happen, with reports surfacing yesterday claiming that Messi has already been in contact with Pep Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, winning two Champions Leagues together. One option City are exploring is offering Messi a five year contract playing at clubs under the City Group - the first three in Manchester before moving to New York City FC for his last two years in the game.