Gossip: Man City close door on Messi, Henderson eyed

Ian Watson

CITY SHUT DOOR ON MESSI MOVE
Much of the goss since the summer has centred around Manchester City making another move for Lionel Messi next year. But apparently now ‘that door is closed’.

That’s the word according to Sky Sports. Their Spanish football expert Semra Hunter says she has it ‘on good authority from someone close to the situation’ that City will swerve the opportunity to land Messi on a free at the end of the season.

Why have City gone cold on perhaps the greatest player of all time? His age and salary.

Messi is 33 and though he could be available as a free agent, the Barcelona mega star is currently raking in around £89million a season, which City don’t want to be burdened with after all.

Neither dealbreaker was said to be a problem last summer

 

PEP LOOKED AT LUKAKU DEAL
Though City are said to have been put off by the finances involved in landing another top striker earlier this year.

The Telegraph says Pep Guardiola looked into making a play for Romelu Lukaku, who you would imagine would have jumped at the chance to stick it to Manchester United by joining their derby rivals.

But Inter Milan’s valuation saw City end their interest, with the Italians wanting around £93million for the Belgium centre-forward.

 

INTER OPEN TO ERIKSEN OFFERS
Inter won’t be as demanding should anyone fancy taking Christian Eriksen off their hands in January,

The Denmark playmaker has flopped hard at the San Siro since moving from Spurs last winter and Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has admitted that the club is ready to listen to offers.

It was suggested that Manchester United could offer Fred in exchange for the 28-year-old, who could join Paul Pogba and Donny van de Beek on the bench.


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PREM PAIR MAY MOVE FOR HENDERSON
United will have to attend to Dean Henderson’s situation when the January window opens.

The keeper fancied his chances of dislodging David De Gea from the United goal but so far his opportunities have been restricted to token appearances in the cup competitions.

With the European Championships looming and seemingly more chance of Henderson becoming England No.1 than United’s first choice, the 23-year-old is said to be desperate to get away on loan again.

The Sun says that Bournemouth have already made an enquiry for Henderson but the Championship doesn’t appeal to the former Sheffield United loanee. The same story suggests that Leeds and Brighton ‘may look at a deal’, with the former perhaps more likely to make a move.