Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is targeting a reunion with Barcelona star Lionel Messi this summer.

The Sunday Express says a deal to bring five times World Player of the Year Messi, 29, to the Etihad Stadium might not as far fetched as it seems.

Messi is out of contract at the end of next season and is struggling to agree a new set of terms which could lead to his departure from the club this summer.

Barca can only spend 70 per cent of their income on wages and have given new deals to a number of players including Luis Suárez and Neymar.

And they are baulking at the £650,000 a week demands of Messi who earns almost £20 million a year close to £400,000 a week after tax.

Talks have been dragging on for the last year without any agreement and Manchester City bosses are confident that Barca might be prepared to do business.

Guardiola will be given at least £200million to spend on transfers plus whatever they raise their sales which could be more than enough to tempt Messi from the Camp Nou.