Manchester City 'slash contract offer to Lionel Messi'

Manchester City have reportedly reduced their contract offer to Lionel Messi by £170m as they bid to sign the Barcelona attacker on a free transfer this summer.

Messi is widely expected to seek pastures new at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, and Man City, in addition to Paris Saint-Germain, are said to be the favourites for his signature.

According to The Sun, the Citizens offered the forward a five-year contract worth £600m when they approached him in the latter stages of 2020.

However, the report claims that Pep Guardiola's side have now presented a new package worth £430m as they believe that the financial climate has changed, while Messi will be 34 by the time that his Barca deal expires.

The Premier League leaders are said to be keen for the Argentina international to spend at least two years at the Etihad Stadium before potentially moving to the club's sister outfit New York City FC in the MLS, while the agreement could also see him become an ambassador for the City Football Group.

Messi has again been in impressive scoring form for Barca during the 2020-21 campaign, finding the back of the net on 20 occasions in 29 appearances in all competitions.