MESSI: AGUERO CAN SAVE BARCA

VILLA TARGET NZONZI FOR LOAN DEAL

STEVEN NZONZI IS wanted by Aston Villa.

The former Stoke midfielder (right) has fallen out of favour at Galatasaray, where he is on loan from Roma.

Villa boss Dean

LIONEL MESSI has urged new Barcelona boss Quique Setien to make a bid for Sergio Aguero.

Messi was summoned for a one-on-one meeting with Setien after the former Betis coach put his squad through their paces following the decision to sack Ernesto Valverde last week.

And according to reports in Spain, the best player in the world told his new boss that Manchester City talisman Aguero is the perfect player to replace injured Luis Suarez.

Suarez will be sidelined for

Smith is unable to sanction a permanent move but does have cash to pay for a loan. at least four months but so far Barca have NOT followed up on Messi’s advice to address the crisis. There has been no approach made to the Etihad about Aguero.

It is almost unthinkable that City would sell their record goalscorer even if an offer was made.

But it is a measure of how highly the 31-year-old is rated by Messi (left with Aguero) that the Argentine wants to team up with his international foil at the Nou Camp.

Aguero has scored 251 goals for City since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011. His hat-trick in the 6-1 romp at Aston Villa last Sunday was his 12th in the Premier League – another record. Aguero’s contract at the Etihad expires in the summer of 2021.

And although he has expressed a wish to finish his career back at his first club, Independiente, boss Pep Guardiola has hinted he may be offered another deal.

There were doubts whether Aguero would fit into Guardiola’s system when the Catalan took over in 2016 – but he has adapted his game to the extent that Pep has been glowing in his praise.