Manchester City remain the frontrunners to sign Lionel Messi but the Premier League club are unwilling to include three players in a stunning swap deal with Barcelona, reports say.
City – managed by Messi’s former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola – have emerged as the favourites to sign the Argentina legend after he requested to leave the Nou Camp after almost two decade.
Messi has established himself as one of the greatest players of all time during his spell at Barcelona, scoring more than 600 goals and winning the Ballon d’Or six times, but he has grown increasingly frustrated in recent months.
The situation reached its nadir when Barcelona suffered an embarrassing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and the subsequent appointment of Ronald Koeman has not appeased Messi.
The 33-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to Man City to link up with former manager Guardiola and the Premier League club are weighing up an offer, with a cash-plus-player deal likely.
But the situation has been complicated by the fact Manchester City are not prepared to use Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva or Riyad Mahrez in any deal to bring Messi to the Etihad.
The Times say Barcelona are particularly keen to sign Jesus to replace Luis Suarez but that City are determined to hold on to the Brazilian and his team-mates Silva and Mahrez.
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