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Report: Manchester City join race to sign Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is a surprise target for Premier League champions Manchester City, according to a report.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini would reportedly be open to signing Barcelona's Lionel Messi in a deal worth £480m.

The four-time Ballon d'Or winner has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou, having claimed that he "does not know" where his future lies.

Chelsea have previously been tipped with a £200m transfer for the Argentina international, although The Sun suggests that Man City could now also be in the race to sign the prolific forward.

When asked about his side's rumoured interest in Messi, Pellegrini refused to play down speculation, saying: "It's normal we are linked with the best players in the market."

This has led to reports suggesting that the Citizens, who also landed Wilfried Bony for £28m yesterday, could now pay out the 27-year-old's £210m release clause, while offering him a six-year deal worth around £270m.

Messi has scored 390 goals in 482 appearances for Barcelona.

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Stevan Jovetic of Manchester City celebrates scoring the second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on August 25, 2014
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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