Paper Round: Manchester City could pay Lionel Messi £800,000-per-week

Manchester City are talking to Lionel Messi's representatives about a deal, while Chelsea want Harry Kane. That and more from the Friday papers.

 

Man City talking £800,000-per-week for Messi

Manchester City are talking to Lionel Messi's representatives about a deal that would pay the superstar £800-000-per-week, according to The Sun. You read that right: £800,000 a week. That's £40 million a year.

Messi is open to the possibility of leaving Barcelona for England, but it would come with a pay raise on his current £500,000-per-week. The deal Man City are offering would pay him £32 million annually for his play, with another £8m in image rights and bonuses. Messi's current deal at Barcelona runs through 2018 and has a £250m buyout clause, but the club would be willing to consider a £120m transfer and they have made Neymar and his new contract their top priority.

Paper Round's view - Messi is undoubtedly brilliant. His quality is beyond debate and Man City would be a much better club for signing him. But is a £120m transfer fee and another £40m each year worth it for a 28-year-old? Probably not. Man City could be a better team by allocating their money elsewhere and spreading it around more, but this isn't just about play. It's a power move and one about glamour and worldwide recognition... and, perhaps crucially for the club's long-term future, millions of potential new City fans across the globe. If Man City's owners are willing to foot the bill for Messi, while also paying to strengthen the rest of the team, then why not? Of course, just talking about signing Messi is easy; actually signing him might prove to be spectacularly difficult.

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Kane in Chelsea's sights

Harry Kane - PA Sport

Chelsea want Harry Kane, but The Mail understands that they will wait until the summer to make a move for him. The Blues are in need of a striker and have set their sights on Kane because of his exploits for club and country. They know signing him in January is unrealistic, but they will make a giant run at him in the summer if there is any indication from Tottenham or Kane that they would welcome a bid. Still, they know that Spurs will probably refuse any discussions of a transfer and even if they were open to it, Daniel Levy would make things very difficult.

Paper Round's view - Remember when Chelsea wanted Luka Modric? Levy put the Blues through hell and still wouldn't sell to Chelsea. The Tottenham chairman doesn't like selling his best players within the league -- there's a reason he resisted interest from Manchester United for Gareth Bale years ago and Kane in the summer -- and especially doesn't like selling to London rivals. Kane is a homegrown player, beloved by the supporters and the face of the club. It will take an absurd bid for Spurs to consider selling Kane and that bid better not come from Chelsea or Levy will find a way to turn it down. Chelsea can admire Kane all they want, but that doesn't mean they will get him, or even have a chance at him.

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Chelsea interested in Vardy, Dembele

Leicester City's English striker Jamie Vardy - AFP

Chelsea are preparing for a busy January. The Mirror claim that the Blues are ready to spend £20m to bring Jamie Vardy to Stamford Bridge, with another £20m to land Mousa Dembele. Jose Mourinho is desperate to add a striker due to Diego Costa's struggles and like Vardy's work rate. They're not sure if the rest of his game is good enough for the Blues, but he's on their shortlist up top. Dembele could give Chelsea a much-needed boost in the midfield and Mourinho is a fan of the Belgian's, whose contract at Tottenham expires in 18 months.

Paper Round's view - Mourinho told the board that the team needed to be strengthened in the summer and they didn't get him what he wanted. Now they're paying for it and will surely add some pieces in January. Vardy might not be the great striker they'd like, but he's proven himself capable in the league and having some competition might push Costa into form. It's tough to imagine Leicester selling him midseason, but Chelsea can offer enough to convince the Foxes to sell if they want him badly. Landing Dembele will be very difficult, though. That there are only 18 months left on his deal seemingly opens the door, but he's been so good for Spurs that they won't want to sell, they're talking to him about a new deal and Levy's relationship with the Blues is icy at best.

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QPR will keep Warnock

Neil Warnock - PA Sport

Queens Park Rangers are set to hire Neil Warnock the remainder of the season, per The Mirror. Warnock took over at Loftus Road when the club fired Chris Ramsey three weeks ago, but only as the caretaker. Now the club want him to stick around, at least until the summer and they are comfortable naming him their manager until that time. Owner Tony Fernandes has been considering several other people to take over the club, but has decided that he wants Warnock, who he has had a good relationship for years despite Fernandes firing him several years ago.

Paper Round's view - Warnock has proven himself capable of managing in the Championship. There might not be anyone more equipped to get a team promoted and keeping him for at least the season, if not longer, is just wise. Fernandes could look around all he wants, he's not going to find a better fit and that he has a good relationship with the manager is just a bonus. Honestly, he's lucky that another club hadn't hired Warnock before he fired Ramsey.

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Coloccini could lose captaincy

Newcastle United's Fabricio Coloccini - PA Sport

Fabricio Coloccini may not be the Newcastle captain for much longer. The Guardian report that Steve McClaren is giving the central defender one last chance to prove he deserves the armband. The Magpies are concerned with Coloccini's poor form, but also what they perceive is a lack of leadership. Coloccini isn't the only Newcastle player under fire, but he is the captain and the Magpies expect more from him. He's promised to play better and lead the club, but if he doesn't do it then Daryl Janmaat is likely to get the armband.

Paper Round's view - Coloccini hasn't played well. Just about everyone is aware that his form has dipped, himself included. But while he is hardly the only Newcastle player struggling, the others aren't the team's captain. With the way the Magpies are sputtering and with relegation looming, it's not a surprise that McClaren wants to shake things up. That could mean in the starting lineup, with Coloccini potentially sitting, or in the captaincy. Either way, things need to change and McClaren is putting Coloccini out in front of it, which is fair consider the responsibility he has as captain. They Magpies just better not think that changing captains is near enough to right the ship.

 

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