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THE transfer window has closed but that hasn't stopped Man City plotting the deal of the century.

Following Lionel Messi's public spat with Barcelona, Pep Guardiola's men believe they are in with a chance of picking up the six-time Ballon d'Or winner for FREE.

Follow all the latest updates and gossip below…

  • WHAT A MESS

    Man City will move for Lionel Messi if he fails to resolve a bust-up with Barcelona.

    The Argentine legend’s future has been plunged into doubt after a public fall-out with club sporting director Eric Abidal.

    City have believed for years that if Messi, 32, ever left Barcelona, his most likely destination would be the Etihad.

    He had some of the best times of his career during Pep Guardiola’s four-year Nou Camp reign, twice winning the Champions League.

    And City big-wigs Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain maintain a warm relationship with the player and his family.

    Messi’s Barca contract runs until 2021, but it does include a clause which would allow him to leave for free this summer.

    And that will put City on red alert – even though the feeling at the Etihad is that Messi WILL remain with the La Liga giants.

  • GREAL MADRID

    Barcelona and Real Madrid have joined Manchester United's hunt for Aston Villa's attacking midfielder Jack Grealish.

    Both Spanish giants are tracking the exciting 24-year-old as they identify their top transfer targets for the summer.

    Their interest will be a major blow to United, who have made Grealish their No 1 option to become the new playmaker at Old Trafford.

    Grealish’s sparkling form has convinced a number of Premier League and European clubs he is the real deal.And he has not escaped notice from Spain's top two clubs.

    Now Villa are steeling themselves for offers at the end of this campaign.

    Birmingham-born Grealish is likely to have his pick over who he wants to join, whether or not he helps Villa avoid relegation this season.

  • AUBAMEYANG IN SHAKE-UP FEAR

    Mikel Artetais planning a major Arsenal shake-up to kickstart his stalled Emirates revolution.

    And senior stars including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil are all threatened.

    New boss Arteta has been disappointed by the team’s lack of progress since he was appointed seven weeks ago.Now he believes his underperforming squad needs major surgery after assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the players he inherited from Unai Emery.

    With the team in serious danger of failing to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1996, Arteta accepts he might have to sell a number of the club’s highest-paid players to finance a summer spending spree.

    Six senior players, including top earners Ozil and Aubameyang, are out of contract in less than 18 months’ time.

  • HEY JUDE

    MANCHESTER CITY have joined arch-rivals United in the race for £30million Birmingham kid Jude Bellingham.

    Boss Pep Guardiola sent a scout to spy on the 16-year-old as he starred as a stand-in striker in the FA Cup replay win overCoventry on Tuesday.

    Now City have joined United, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmundin pursuing the midfield star, who has four goals and one assist in 28 games during a stunning debut season.

    Real Madrid and Barcelona are also believed to be interested.

  • PRAY TO THE ANGELS

    DESPERATE Barcelona are closing in on Getafe super-sub Angel as an emergency signing – after Ousmane Dembele’s injury.

    Spanish football chiefs can give La Liga champs Barca special permission to bring in new players as Dembele picked up a long-term injury after the window shut.

    Spaniard Angel, 32, has helped Getafe to third in the table with six goals, despite only six starts.

    And his Europa league record is almost as impressive, three strikes after starting four times.

    Goal say Angel is the man Barcelona want – with a reported buyout clause of just £8.5million – although Getafe president Angel Torres Sanchez has declined to discuss the matter.

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