Friday's Man City transfer talk: Grealish, Messi, Veron

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer talk for Manchester City on Friday, December 4.

The summer transfer window has now closed, with Manchester City having again focused on bolstering their defence first and foremost.

Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias arrived for a combined sum of more than £100m, while Ferran Torres was another notable signing. Attention will now switch to the January window as Pep Guardiola’s side attempt to win back the Premier League title.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings at the Etihad.

Friday morning’s Manchester City transfer talk news roundup:

Jack Grealish in action for Aston Villa on November 21, 2020

Aston Villa are not prepared to sell Jack Grealish for anything less than £100m next year, according to a report.

The England international has been linked with a move to a Champions League club after his starring role for Villa last term, but Grealish elected to commit his future to Dean Smith’s side until 2025 despite reported interest from Manchester United in the summer.

The 25-year-old has once again played a key part in Villa’s strong start to the 2020-21 campaign, with Manchester City now also believed to be in the running for his signature after he was reportedly given a seal of approval by Kevin De Bruyne.

However, according to The Telegraph, it would now take a nine-figure sum to prise Grealish away from Villa Park even though the West Midlands outfit would have accepted £70m in the summer.

The report claims that despite interest from the two Manchester clubs, Villa are confident that Grealish’s £100m price tag will deter potential suitors and the winger will stay put past the summer of 2021.

Should any team fork out the required £100m to secure Grealish’s services, the Villa captain would become the most expensive British player in history, a record which is currently held by Gareth Bale.

Grealish already boasts six goals and six assists in all competitions for Aston Villa in the 2020-21 season.

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi pictured on November 7, 2020

Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona on a free transfer next summer to join Paris Saint-Germain, according to journalist Daniel Riolo.

The 33-year-old’s future at Camp Nou remains the subject of much speculation as his contract with the Catalan giants is due to expire in June 2021.

Manchester City continue to be credited with an interest in the Argentina international, but PSG have also been mentioned as potential suitors since Messi signalled a desire to seek pastures new.

Neymar revealed after Wednesday’s Champions League win over Manchester United that he is desperate to reunite with his fellow South American “next season”, while PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes has also talked up a potential switch to the French capital.

RMC Sport pundit Riolo has now insisted that the Barca attacker, who has scored seven times and registered four assists in 12 club outings this term, will join Thomas Tuchel’s side next summer.

“Lionel Messi will be at PSG next year. I am being very serious. Messi will be at PSG next year,” said the journalist.

Barca’s interim president Carlos Tusquets has claimed that the club should have sold Messi during the recent transfer window after he expressed his desire to leave.