Football rumours: Man City ready to part with players to sign Messi

Lionel Messi and Troy Deeney feature in today’s football gossip (Ryan Heathcote/Pool/Nick Potts/PA)

What the papers say

The Lionel Messi speculation continues at fever pitch, with Manchester City said to be ready to part with as many as four players to secure the 33-year-old. The Manchester Evening News says if City cannot secure Messi on a free transfer – a contractual matter still in dispute at Barcelona – they would offer Spanish defender Eric Garcia, 19, and Angelino, 23, to lower a transfer fee tipped to be around £200million. Spanish website Sport says City are prepared to offer £89.5m, plus Garcia, midfielder Bernardo Silva, 26, and forward Gabriel Jesus, 23. The Times says Messi phoned City manager Pep Guardiola last week to tell him he wants to leave Barcelona.