Gossip: Man City fancy Messi on a free; Grealish a target

CITY WATCHING MESSI’S BARCA BUST-UP
The news of Lionel Messi’s ding-dong with Barcelona’s top brass has apparently given Manchester City’s head honchos that special tingle. For they believe that should the Argentina star quit the Nou Camp, then City are the frontrunners for his signature.

And they would get him for nothing in the summer. Messi has a clause in his current Barca deal that entitles him to walk away for nothing should he choose to this year.

The Manchester Evening News has laid out the reasons they say City fancy themselves to pull off one of the all-time coups. Basically, Messi has mates in Manchester.

Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain are ‘old friends’ of Messi while Sergio Aguero is said to be his best mate in the game. Pep Guardiola thinks the sun shines out of his arse too.

But we’ve all also heard that he thinks Curly Watts is a dick.

GREAL MADRID EYE JACK
Barca have got it covered, though. For they, along with Real Madrid, have joined the race for the Midlands Messi.

According to The Sun, both La Liga giants are sniffing around Jack Grealish. Which might make life harder for Manchester United.

United are said to have made the Aston Villa playmaker their priority for the summer, when it is said Grealish’s price could reach £60million. Which sounds bloody cheap, if you ask us. Oh, you’re not.

MAN UTD AND CHELSEA TARGET DUO
United will have to get their elbows out as they jostle for position over other targets too.

The Sun tells us that the Red Devils and Chelsea are trying to get ahead of each other in the pursuit of Jadon Sancho. Which is nothing we didn’t already know.

The Mirror reckons the Blues and the Red Devils will also go into battle over Lyon striker Moussa Demeble. But details are thin on the ground there too.

AND THE REST
Barcelona are stepping up their pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang… Wolves are braced for record-breaking bids for Adama Traore… Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to sign two midfielders and a defender before Euro 2020 begins… Jorginho’s agent reckons Chelsea will be fielding offers for the midfielder this summer… Roma winger Cengiz Under isbeing watched by Tottenham… Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian is a target for Real Betis… Crystal Palace will move again for CSKA Moscow striker Fyodor Chalov… Man City are also keen on Birmingham teenager Jude Bellingham.