The January transfer window has now closed, leaving Manchester City to begin looking forward to the summer for their next round of recruitment.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings at the Etihad.
Friday morning’s Manchester City transfer talk news roundup:
Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland said that it is “nice” to be linked with Real Madrid when asked how it felt to be wanted by the Spanish club’s supporters.
The 20-year-old is enjoying another remarkable campaign for BVB, finding the back of the net on 25 occasions in 24 appearances in all competitions, including eight goals in five Champions League outings.
The Norway international scored a brace in Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash on Wednesday night.
Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Manchester United have all been strongly linked with the striker, while Madrid are also said to be determined to bring him to the Bernabeu.
“It’s always nice if someone wants you,” Haaland told reporters when asked how he felt about the Spanish side’s supporters calling for him to arrive in Madrid.
Haaland is unlikely to be allowed to leave Signal Iduna Park during this summer’s transfer window, but a £68m release clause in his contract can be activated at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Manchester City have reportedly reduced their contract offer to Lionel Messi by £170m as they bid to sign the Barcelona attacker on a free transfer this summer.
Messi is widely expected to seek pastures new at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, and Man City, in addition to Paris Saint-Germain, are said to be the favourites for his signature.
According to The Sun, the Citizens offered the forward a five-year contract worth £600m when they approached him in the latter stages of 2020.
However, the report claims that Pep Guardiola’s side have now presented a new package worth £430m as they believe that the financial climate has changed, while Messi will be 34 by the time that his Barca deal expires.
The Premier League leaders are said to be keen for the Argentina international to spend at least two years at the Etihad Stadium before potentially moving to the club’s sister outfit New York City FC in the MLS, while the agreement could also see him become an ambassador for the City Football Group.
Messi has again been in impressive scoring form for Barca during the 2020-21 campaign, finding the back of the net on 20 occasions in 29 appearances in all competitions.
