Manchester City will include Gabriel Jesus as part of an audacious three-player swap deal to snap up Barcelona captain Lionel Messi, according to reports in Spain.
Messi, 33, sent shockwaves throughout the football world on Wednesday after he told the Spanish club his future is no longer seen at the Camp Nou.
And City have emerged as the leading favourites to secure the services of the Argentine superstar and reuniting him with former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola.
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The Premier League side are expected to face heavy resistance from Barcelona, who have no intention of allowing Messi to quit the club.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, City will push ahead with their move for Messi by offering three players.
Jesus, 23, has emerged as a potential target for Barcelona as Ronald Koeman prepares to axe Luis Suarez as part of his squad overhaul.
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Eric Garcia, who came through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, is another player that City would include in the deal alongside Jesus.
City left-back Angelino, who impressed during his loan spell at RB Leipzig last season, would complete the three-player package that the club would offer Barcelona.
Sport added that Messi could command a world-record transfer fee if Barcelona decided to sell the six-time Ballon d'Or winner this summer.
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However, the newspaper reports that City's swap deal would help them significantly reduce the asking price for the Argentina captain.
Barcelona sporting director Ramon Planes broke silence over the club's situation with Messi by insisting that the player is an integral part of Barca's future.
During the unveiling of new signing Francisco Trincao, he said: "We do not contemplate any contractual exit, because we want Leo to stay. Internally, we are working long hours to find the best solution for FCB and for Leo.
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"This is evidently the important news, we have said many times, as Koeman and the president have said, we count on Messi for the future just like we count on Trincao as a talent for the future.
"We hope he will play alongside the greatest player in the history, the greatest player in the world, but these things happen and we hope we will come back stronger from the defeat at the end of last season.
"What has happened has happened and our idea is to build a team around the most important player in the world."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, Football News, Football, Eric Garcia, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Premier League, La Liga, Barca