Ololade Adeyanju/
Premiership club, Manchester City are preparing a £358 million bid for Lionel Messi.
City are hoping to take advantage of Messi’s contract stand-off at Barcelona by lodging a bid for his services in January.
Barcelona announced earlier in the year that Messi had signed a new contract at the Nou Camp, extending his stay until 2021.
However, Spanish newspaper AS reports that the deal remains in doubt despite Barcelona’s announcement and there are still a number of loose ends to tie up.
As it stands, Messi’s Barcelona deal is due to run out this summer meaning that clubs are free to negotiate with him as early as January.
And according to the Madrid-based newspaper, City are poised to exploit the uncertainty with an incredible offer for Messi in the next transfer window.
The move, if successful, would see Messi reunite with his former manager Pep Guardiola.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told reporters earlier this summer that Messi’s extension was confirmed, saying: “Everything is signed. There is no need to worry”.
Messi is currently with the Argentina squad ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on Wednesday morning, which will determine whether or not they qualify for Russia.
Argentina sit sixth in the South American qualifying section, one place off the play-off spot after a disappointing goalless draw with Peru in Buenos Aires.
Messi and Guardiola 