Manchester City Transfer News, Rumors 2015: Lionel Messi Coming for £500 Million? Frank Lampard Staying
Manchester City has been making headlines the past week as reports have appeared concerning the fate of its players and management.
Reports have appeared claiming that Barcelona is looking to hit City with a triple whammy, eyeing manager Manuel Pellegrini, chief executive officer Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain.
Barcelona is looking to replace Andoni Zubizarreta and his assistant Carles Puyol, after the former was dismissed and the latter quit.
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It remains to be seen how the news will affect Manchester as they set to face Barcelona on Feb. 24 in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City though are celebrating this New Year after confirming they will keep Frank Lampard for the rest of the season before he will be released to go to New York City FC. Those rumors have upset some NYCFC fans as he was expected to join the team from January, or at the latest in March when the MLS season kicks off. However, he has become such an important player to City over the first half of the season that they are unwilling to let him go while the English Premier League and Champions League titles are still possible.
But Manchester City could also be on the lookout for a new player and a possible prospect is Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. However, it won't come cheap.
Messi is rumored to be available for transfer but probably the only teams that would be willing to pay for him in England would be Manchester City or Chelsea. However, he reportedly has a release clause of £215 million (around $317 million). Added to a six-year contract of £45 million (around $68 million) annually, either team would need around £500 Million ($756 million) to nab Messi.
The rumors follow reports that Messi is unhappy playing for Barca, especially after clashing with boss Luis Enrique.
"Leo's minded to leave Barca. He is completely fed up with so many things at the club that it is difficult to see a way forward," a source reportedly claimed.
