Manchester United and Chelsea are set to be blown out of the water by the Premier League champions…
Manchester City are reportedly open to making a world record offer for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, and are willing to offer a fee that would surely be impossible to rival.
SEE MORE:
Top Ten Ballon d’Or 2015 Candidates From The Premier League – After England Lands Just Two Winners In 46 Years
Ballon d’Orful – The Worst World XI That Could Have Been Chosen, Including Hopeless Former Chelsea Man & Man United Star
Real Madrid Star Says Manuel Neuer Should Have Finished Above Lionel Messi In The Ballon D’Or Voting
According to reports in The Sun, City boss Manuel Pellegrini has opened the door to the deal, speaking after after completing a £28m deal for Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony – the Premier League champions first deal of the January transfer window.
The City boss said: “It’s normal we are linked with the best players in the market.” According to the source, Messi, 27, has a £210m buy-out clause in his contract but put his Barcelona future in doubt after admitting he is uncertain whether he will stay at the Nou Camp.
But in addition to the huge transfer fee, the Argentine maestro would expect a six-year deal worth around £270m, taking any switch to a staggering £480m – a figure that would blow away most team’s chance of signing the player.
Pellegrini told reporters: “At times these rumours come out because of personal interests and not from the club but I’m not saying this has happened specifically in this case.”
SEE ALSO: Man City transfer news