MANCHESTER CITY have CUT their £600m contract offer to Lionel Messi to £430m following Barcelona’s 4-1 loss to PSG.
Pep Guardiola’s men are still extremely keen on the six-time Ballon d’Or winner but due to the pandemic and Messi turning 34 in summer, they have chosen to reduce their bid by £170m.
Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are in the transfer speculation spotlight – with mind-boggling figures circling around all of them.
Manchester City have slashed their five-year pay offer to Barcelona legend Messi from £600million to £430m.
And City, as well as neighbours United, are tipped to pursue Tottenham striker Kane this summer, despite the England skipper’s £200,000-a-week wages.
Meanwhile, PSG will demand £175million for France superstar Mbappe, with Real Madrid the frontrunners for his signature and Liverpool rated as outsiders.
Elsewhere, Wolves frontman Raul Jimenez returned to training yesterday after fracturing his skull in a horrific clash with Arsenal’s David Luiz in November.
On the field, Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes saluted Fernandes’ continuing “sensational” form as the midfielder’s double set up United’s 4-0 Europa League last-32 first-leg win against Real Sociedad in Turin.
Marcus Rashford and Dan James netted later on, with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying: “We’ve been through a difficult spell and I thought we found ourselves a little bit tonight.
“I thought the boys had got that little bit of zip in their legs again.”
Tottenham chief Jose Mourino insisted Gareth Bale’s fine goal plus an assist in Spurs’ 4-1 Europa League triumph at Wolfsberger means he could start Sunday’s Premier League clash at West Ham.
And Bukayo Saka’s leveller earned Arsenal a shot-shy 1-1 first-leg draw with Benfica in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
Even better for the Gunners, left-back Kieran Tierney and forward Gabriel Martinelli returned after injury as second-half subs.
Leicester drew 0-0 at Slavia Prague after struggling to create chances.
Harry Kane told Jose Mourinho not to play him in the 4-1 win over Wolfsberger because the Tottenham striker feared another injury.
But Gareth Bale stepped up by scoring one and making another in Budapest to prove he is far from finished.
Kane recently returned from injuring both ankles but Mourinho hopes to have his talisman fit to face West Ham on Sunday – with Bale now in contention to start.
Spurs boss Mourinho said: “Harry made the decision based on his feelings which was that to play in this game was a risk with the accumulation of minutes after the injury he had.
“He is an experienced guy who had injuries in the past and knows his body better than anyone. Myself and the medical department agreed with him, to give him this opportunity to take care of his condition.
“He knows I want to play him every minute of every game so it is never a question of a choice.
“I wanted to come here with the best team and the players to give us more opportunities to have a good result. But I believe Sunday he will be okay and ready.”
Manchester City have cut their contract offer to Lionel Messi by a whopping £170m, writes Duncan Wright.
City tabled a five-year deal worth £600m when they tried to sign him six months ago.
But SunSport understands they have presented the Argentine, 34, with a new package to join this summer worth a reduced £430m.
Messi is also a target for Paris Saint-Germain and he is weighing up options, with his Barca contract expiring in July.
But Premier League leaders City are not prepared to match the terms they proposed back in August, believing the financial climate has changed and also taking into account he is another year along in his career.
The Messi camp, led by the Argentine’s father Jorge, asked for all clubs who were keen to sign the player to put their money on the table in December.
It is thought City want Messi on a two-year playing deal at the Etihad with a 12-month option, before committing to two more seasons in MLS with sister club New York City.
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