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:
Barcelona, Manchester City 'join Liverpool in race for Marcus Thuram'
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Barcelona and Manchester City are reportedly preparing to battle Liverpool for the signature of Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Marcus Thuram during next summer's transfer window.
The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for his German club during the 2020-21 campaign, scoring three times and contributing five assists in 10 appearances in all competitions.
A recent report claimed that Liverpool were interested in signing the attacker, who is the son of World Cup winner and France legend Lilian Thuram.
However, according to Bild, both Barca and Man City are also in the hunt for a player who has two goals and two assists in three Champions League outings this season.
Thuram, who has earned a call up to the France squad for the nation's upcoming matches against Finland, Portugal and Sweden, is contracted to Gladbach until June 2023.
The former Sochaux youngster has scored 17 times and registered 14 assists in 49 outings for his current club.
Former Manchester City striker warns club against signing Lionel Messi
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Emile Mpenza has warned his former club Manchester City against signing Lionel Messi from Barcelona as other positions instead need to be prioritised.
City were considered the frontrunners to sign the Argentina international in the summer after he announced his desire to leave Camp Nou.
Messi opted to stay at Barca after the club disputed the validity of the release clause in his contract, but he will become a free agent at the end of the campaign.
However, Mpenza does not believe that Pep Guardiola should consider a reunion with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner next summer.
"I think that with all the defensive problems Guardiola has, he doesn't really need someone like Messi," he is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News. "He should sort the leaky defence out first.
"[Vincent] Kompany has left a huge hole at the heart of the defence and City are yet to find the stability they had when Kompany was running the backline. It's a tall order to fill Vincent's shoes and what's the point of signing Messi with all the issues they have at the back?
"They have enough players in his position like [Riyad] Mahrez and [Sergio] Aguero. If they sign Messi that would be too many players for the same position and cause problems. I believe that he will link up with Pep Guardiola again at some point in his career, but not at City itself but rather for their partner club New York City FC.
"Guardiola has managed in three of the best European leagues such as La Liga, the Premier League and Bundesliga with only Serie A missing. For me MLS is his next stop and he will take Messi with him there."
Messi has made a slow start to 2020-21, having failed to score from open play in nine matches.
More transfer news from Manchester City:
Juventus 'firmly in the race for David Alaba'
Juventus are in the mix to sign Bayern Munich defender David Alaba on a free transfer, according to a report. Read more.
