Manchester City feel now is the time to strike for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Sunday Mirror says City believe Messi is ready to quit Barcelona.

Etihad bosses have made signing the Argentine ace for Pep Guardiola their No 1 priority this summer.

And City's confidence that they can seal a world-record £100million deal for the five-time world player of the year has received a double boost in recent days.

Messi's father, Jorge, who acts as his son's adviser, is in Barcelona to look after business – but has no plans to talk to the club about extending a contract that now has less than 16 months to run.

After handing new deals to Neymar and Luis Suarez, Barca will struggle to hand Messi an increase on his current wages and stay within the boundaries of La Liga's salary restrictions.

Clubs cannot spend more than 70 percent of their income on wages – and Messi already earns £20million-a-year after tax.