Manchester City linked with £250million Messi bid

Lionel Messi

="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/lionel-messi-transfer-manchester-city-3431138">(The Mirror)< Manchester City are keeping tabs on Lionel Messi's contract negotiations ahead of a possible world record £250million summer move.

According to Catalan sports channel Esport3, the Argentina star is growing disillusioned with life at Barcelona, believing that the club no longer see him as an indispensable asset.

They've suggested that the four-time Ballon D'or winner has been made aware that certain board members reckon his on-field powers are waning, and that now could be the perfect time to cash in on the La Masia graduate, whose buy-out clause stands at a cool £205million.

The 26-year-old, who in an injury-hit season has still managed 38 goals in 41 appearances for his club, has come in for hefty criticism in the last fortnight as Barcelona's season has imploded.

Messi's contract with the Blaugrana runs until 2018, but there have been talks over a new deal.

However, those talks have stalled, with the club unwilling to offer Messi improved terms, while the player is said to be unhappy with what he perceives as a lack of belief from the Barcelona hierarchy.

And now the likes of City, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and arch-rivals Real Madrid are all reportedly monitoring the situation, with an eye on taking advantage this summer.

That quartet are the only clubs in Europe who could reasonably lure the Argentina captain, and afford to pay his £20million-a-year wages.

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