Paper Talk: City eye Lewandowski, Messi, Pogba and four more

Robert Lewandowski: Could follow Pep Guardiola to City

Manchester City are bidding to sign Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Paul Pogba as new boss Pep Guardiola prepares to launch a serious spending spree – but at least two of their flop signings will be allowed to leave, according to Tuesday’s newspapers.

GUARDIOLA WANTS LEWANDOWSKI & MESSI REUNIONS

Manchester City are being linked with a £75million summer move for Robert Lewandowksi following the confirmation that Pep Guardiola will become their manager at the end of the season.

New boss Guardiola has vowed not to raid current club Bayern Munich once he takes over at the Etihad.

But The Sun understands City will move for the Pole if the Germans open talks with Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants are hot favourites to land the striker who has openly declared his desire to join Real on TV in Poland earlier this season.

But City know that Guardiola, who coached Lewy in his last two years at Bayern, could prove a decisive factor in the 27-year-old frontman’s decision.

Guardiola’s new club Manchester City are also set to intensify their pursuit of landing Lionel Messi now that they have finally secured the boss they have chased for four years.

Lewandowski might prove a more realistic target than the Barcelona megastar.

Paris Saint-Germain are also willing to break the bank to snatch him from Bayern. But the French moneybags are rank outsiders as the Poland captain would prefer a switch to Spain or England.

CITY ALSO CHASE POGBA, ALABA, STONES, NEYMAR & LAPORTE

Paul Pogba: Linked with move to Manchester City

City are still keen on Juventus powerhouse Paul Pogba, according to The Sun. The former Manchester United kid, 22, would cost at least £70m.

And to add insult to injury to Bayern, City also have an eye on their £35m-rated left-back David Alaba, 23.

Spanish news outlet Fijaches, meanwhile, claim Guardiola will contact Barcelona and ask them to ‘name their price’ for Manchester United target Neymar.

They are also emerging as favourites to sign John Stones from Everton and Aymeric Laporte, who has a £37million release clause in his Athletic Bilbao contract, as they plot a summer spending spree to finally bring the club closer to the world’s top clubs.

CITY TO SELL OFF SIGNING FLOPS

Eliaquim Mangala: Talks up Man City's prospects

Man City are planning an expensive summer overhaul of the squad with defender Eliaquim Mangala, 24, and Wilfried Bony, 27, poised to be sold, claims the Daaily Telegraph.

Guardiola is rumoured to have already had an input in City’s summer transfer plans and it certainly appears the club’s overhaul is very much being designed with the Bayern Munich manager in mind.

City want a more versatile forward to take over from Bony to support Sergio Aguero.

Bony was signed only last January for £28million from Swansea City, but the Ivory Coast international will be allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season with the club hoping to recoup around £20million.

Swansea have already been linked with a move to re-sign Bony, but Everton could look at the 27-year-old if they lose Romelu Lukaku, while the player also has admirers abroad.

City have again struggled to cope with losing captain Vincent Kompany to injury this season, with Mangala failing to prove that he will justify his £32million price tag.

Mangala was almost loaned to Valencia as part of the deal to sign Nicolas Otamendi last summer, but an impressive performance against Chelsea altered that plan.

Having been given a second chance, Mangala has not maintained the form he displayed against Chelsea and the 24-year-old’s appalling performance against title rivals Arsenal just before Christmas appears to have sealed his fate.

The contract of 35-year-old Martin Demichelis is due to expire, which will also help to make space for a big new arrival in the centre of defence – hence the links to Stones and Laporte.

 

AND THE REST

– Manchester United have turned their attention to Jose Mourinho after rivals Manchester City confirmed Pep Guardiola is heading to the Etihad in the summer (Daily Star)

– Pep Guardiola rejected last-minute attempts from Manchester United and Chelsea before agreeing a three-year deal to become Manchester City manager next summer (Daily Star)

– Guardiola is already the best-paid manager in the world, but his £15m-a-year deal with City is an increase on his salary at Bayern Munich (Daily Mail)

– Manuel Pellegrini’s next job could see him remain in the Premier League with Chelsea, who spoke to the 62-year-old before bringing Jose Mourinho back to the club in 2013 (Daily Express)

– Chelsea captain John Terry, 35, has been offered a move to the Middle East as talks between his advisers and Qatar side Al Arabi – managed by Gianfranco Zola – have taken place (Daily Mirror)

– Former England captain Terry could earn £20m by playing just one season in China, although a move to the MLS is also a possible destination (Daily Telegraph)

– Chelsea will look to Italy for their next manager – with Henry Winter hinting that he thinks Italy head coach Antonio Conte will get the job (The Times)

– On-loan Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao, 29, was in Madrid on transfer deadline day looking to seal a move back to former club Atletico Madrid

 Aston Villa manager Remi Garde is prepared to walk out on the club this summer after they failed to sign any of his January targets

– Surprise Premier League leaders Leicester missed out on signing striker Loic Remy, 29, after Chelsea decided not to allow the France international to leave on a loan deal. (Leicester Mercury)

– Manchester United had a deadline day move for Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy, 30, blocked by Arsene Wenger. The full-back moved to Bordeaux instead (Daily Mirror)

– Barcelona are considering a move for United midfielder Juan Mata, 27, and initial contact has been made between the La Liga club and the Spain international’s representatives (Daily Mail)

– West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace rejected a £24m bid from Newcastle for striker Saido Berahino, 22, even though the offer was straight cash being paid up front (Daily Mirror)

– Premier League strugglers Swansea were approached about the possibility of signing Brazilian Robinho, 32, who is a free agent after leaving Guangzhou Evergrande (South Wales Evening Post)

– Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique, 30, rejected a move back to former club Newcastle, preferring to see out the remaining five months of his Anfield contract (Daily Mirror)

– Aston Villa missed out on signing Hajduk Split’s 6ft 7in goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, 25, after the Croatian was denied a work permit and two subsequent appeals to the FA failed (Birmingham Mail)

– Serie A side Lazio blocked moves from Villa and Bournemouth to sign midfielder Ravel Morrison, 22, who will now remain in Italy until the end of the season (Talksport)