There’s more on the never-ending, alleged pursuit of Lionel Messi, while it’s also claimed City are also monitoring Toby Alderweireld’s situation.
According to Jack Staplehurst of the Daily Star: “Chelsea and Manchester City are on red alert with Toby Alderweireld unhappy about his pay at Tottenham.
“Starsport understands the Belgium international is on just £50,000 a week, with his deal running until June 2019.”
Apparently, his agent Stijn Francis stated: “If you only look at his figures, Toby is impressive and for his performances, he deserves either a correct contract from Tottenham or a transfer.
“For a transfer, you know that he can only leave Tottenham for seven or eight teams and almost all the other top clubs are interested in Toby.”
The article continues: “Tottenham’s title rivals have apparently been informed about the stalemate over a new contract.
“Talks have broken down in recent months, and that could see Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola make a move.
“Both managers were looking to strengthen in central defence over the summer.
“And The Telegraph add Spurs may have to seriously consider listening to offers next year.
“If no new deal is agreed, the 28-year-old could eventually see a £25m buyout clause triggered in his contract.
“Spurs have the option of extending his deal for a further 12 months but his release clause would then come into effect in the summer of 2019.”
Regarding the Messi saga, Sky Sports believe the Argentine could leave Barcelona on a free transfer.
Oliver Yew’s report reads: “In July, Messi agreed terms on a new contract that would keep him at the Nou Camp until 2021 but the Argentina international is yet to put pen-to-paper on the deal.
“And [Terry] Gibson, speaking on Sky Sports’ La Liga Weekly podcast, is starting to think Messi could quit the Nou Camp next summer with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain now able to afford the 30-year-old.”
Gibson told La Liga Weekly: “I always thought Lionel Messi, like Andres Iniesta and Xavi, would spend the bulk of the serious part of his career at Barcelona.
“For years, I found it hard to envisage how anyone could afford to take Messi away from Barcelona, but now we’ve seen the emergence of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
“Now I’m looking at the fact he’s got only a year left on his contract. I think the new contract offer is worth €24m-a-year but if he was available on a free transfer Barca’s offer would get dwarfed.
“If a PSG or a Manchester City can get an out-of-contract Messi we’re talking, with the price of players now, €100m, €150m, €200m.
“I know he’s 30 now but in terms of prestige and what a signing like that can bring to the club would be a real coup.
“It’s not just the marketing, it is 50 games and 50 goals a season in whatever league he goes and plays in. I didn’t think it would happen, but I actually think it might now.”
Elsewhere, there’s praise for ESPN’s’ David Mooney declares his admiration for the winger’s ability to handle pressure.
He writes: “Despite not featuring a great deal in City’s opening to the 2017-18 campaign, it’s clear Sterling is both important to Guardiola’s way of playing and very much still in the manager’s plans.
“The arrival of Guardiola was a big plus in Sterling’s career at the Etihad, too. Under his previous manager, Manuel Pellegrini, he admitted he’d been forced into a style of play that stifled his game
“But given the freedom to run at defenders and switched to the right flank from the left, Sterling’s second season at the club was much improved.
“He was the only player at City to hit double figures for both goals and assists last season. As part of the front three that included Leroy Sane and one of Gabriel Jesus or Sergio Aguero, he was crucial in helping his side break away with pace and in causing problems in the opposition penalty area.
“The improvement Sterling has made under Guardiola has already seen him become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League. While he may not have a wide-right position in the manager’s 3-5-2 system, he still has a large part to play in City’s title-challenge this season.
“Guardiola has commented often that Sterling can play centrally -- and if everything goes to plan, the manager will have something in the region of 55-60 matches this season, leaving plenty of room for formation and personnel changes.
“Sterling’s ability to get on with life at City despite the attention from the outside world is admirable. If he carries on that way, he could be one of the most important players at the Etihad for many years to come.”
