In one of the biggest transfer stories of all-time, there seems to be quite a market developing for Lionel Messi this summer.
Of course, the Argentine could be using his transfer request to oust the club's board, but it looks like some of Europe's biggest clubs are putting together offers for the 33-year old superstar.
All of the usual big names have been linked with Messi. Manchester City are seen as favourites, while the likes of the PSG, Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Juventus have also been mentioned as possible destinations.
Messi already has some strong connections at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola is the manager, with former Barcelona employees Txiki Begiristain, Ferran Soriano, Manuel Estiarte, and Lorenzo Buenaventura also playing prominent roles at the English club.
Despite Messi's relationship with Guardiola being a complicated one, that won't stop the club moving for the forward this summer if he truly is available.
The player himself believes a clause in his contract should allow him to leave the Camp Nou on a free transfer, with City seemingly planning to put in a major offer even if that isn't the case.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Manchester City are willing to offer €100million and three players in a deal for Lionel Messi if he is not allowed to leave Barcelona on a free this summer.
The three players in question are reported to be Eric Garcia, Gabriel Jesus, and Bernardo Silva. They believe that by offering players in part-exchange they could circumvent financial fair play rules.
That would be a major outlay from City, despite his status as perhaps the greatest footballer of all-time. He is now entering the twilight of his career, with the three players mentioned above all being aged 26-years old or younger.
On Barcelona's behalf, they have shown interest in each of that trio in the past. It had been rumoured that they viewed Jesus as a potential replacement for Luis Suarez, while Eric Garcia was being lined up for a free transfer at the end of the next season. Bernardo Silva has also been of interest to the club in recent seasons.
The Portuguese winger fell out of favour under Guardiola towards the end of the season, failing to come off the bench during their Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon. They also risk losing Garcia on a free in less than 12 months, while Jesus has not yet proven to be the ready made Sergio Aguero replacement the club would have hoped for
Even accounting for all of this, letting all three players leave in exchange for a 33-year old Messi would be a huge risk for Manchester City.
