City close in on huge double for Pep & Leo

boardrooms around the Premier League and at UEFA.

It’s believed there has already been informal dialogue between some of City’s opponents, who are watching the Messi saga closely as his proposed exit from Barcelona gathers pace.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham are believed to have been among clubs which backed UEFA’s pursuit of City for allegedly breaking FFP rules.

And it’s understood they are keeping an eye on developments with UEFA – stung by City’s successful appeal against the football body’s finding – who are also certain to forensically scrutinise the figures if Messi agrees a deal to join Guardiola in Manchester.

That seems ever closer after the six-time Ballon d’Or winner made it clear he is not backing down from his bid to quit the Nou Camp. The Daily Star Sunday understands that both clubs believe Messi is bound for the Etihad.

New Barca coach Ronald Koeman is already planning for life without Messi.

And Nou Camp chiefs are hoping to agree a

£250million players-plus-cash deal with City rather than go to court in an attempt to get The Etihad club to pay the player’s

£630m get-out clause in full. But Koeman’s hopes of brokering a deal that would see Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva move to Spainv has been knocked back by City.

There are players Guardiola (above) would be prepared to sacrifice – including John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Benjamin Mendy, Joao Cancelo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Angelino – while Barcelona want young City defender Eric Garcia, following his decision to reject a new contract.

Barca are hoping to also bank at least £120m in cash to enable Koeman to rebuild.

At City, bosses know the arrival of Messi, 33, will secure the future of boss Guardiola for another three years.

Messi has other huge offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, while Juventus have also entered the bidding.

But it is telling that the Argentine wanted assurances from Guardiola, 49, that his former Barcelona boss would not be leaving Manchester at the end of the coming season.

City have been on a charm offensive to secure Guardiola beyond 2021 for the past year – and Messi’s arrival will seal the deal.