Manchester City are keen on bringing Lionel Messi to the Etihad.

The former Premier League champions have been monitoring the Argentine’s situation and seem to have been given the green light to grab the forward on Tuesday when Messi handed a transfer request to the Barcelona board.

ESPN report that Manchester City have offered Messi a three-year deal to the Premier League and then a two-year contract to sign for New York City in MLS.

Pep Guardiola’s influence on the number 10 is one key reason why the six-time winner of the Ballon d’Or will opt to play in the Premier League.

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RAC1has reported that Messi's father, Jorge, is already in negotiations with Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano. The Catalan radio station reports that he will sign a two-year deal and will retain his Barcelona salary, which is around 100 million euros gross.

Lionel Messi has a year left on his current contract and Barca would have not much of an option in the player’s decision to join another club. The five-time European cup winners will do themselves more harm if they force the player to stay out of his will and he refuses to sign a new contract.