The summer transfer window has now closed, with Manchester City having again focused on bolstering their defence first and foremost.
Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias arrived for a combined sum of more than £100m, while Ferran Torres was another notable signing. Attention will now switch to the January window as Pep Guardiola's side attempt to win back the Premier League title.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings at the Etihad.
Thursday morning's Manchester City transfer talk news roundup:
Manchester City 'to make new move for Lionel Messi in January'
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Manchester City are reportedly plotting to make a fresh move for Barcelona frontman Lionel Messi in the January transfer window.
The 33-year-old unsuccessfully attempted to leave the Spanish side over the summer, citing a clause in his rolling contract that gives him the option to leave on a free at the end of every season.
The coronavirus pandemic meant that the end date of the season was delayed, however, muddying the waters of Messi's contract clause - and rather than take on a legal battle, the Argentine forward opted to stay for another year.
Pep Guardiola's City were heavily linked with snapping up Messi over the summer and remain the favourites to secure his services if he leaves at the end of the current season, but according to The Sun, the side is aiming to bring him to the Premier League as soon as January.
The newspaper claims that Barca are aware that they are likely to lose their greatest ever player on a free transfer in the summer and may opt to accept some much-needed transfer funds at mid-season - and they would also see the benefit of losing his hefty wages from their balance sheet.
Messi himself may not be up for such a deal, however, with a recent report claiming that he is in line for a £30m loyalty bonus if he sees out the season with the Catalan side, even if he then goes on to leave on a free.
Barcelona presidential candidate: 'Keeping Lionel Messi is critical'
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Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font believes that Lionel Messi needs to finish his playing career at Camp Nou before taking on a behind-the-scenes role in Catalonia.
The talismanic Argentine came close to ending his association with La Blaugrana over the summer after handing in a transfer request, but Messi remained at Barca, who have since seen Josep Maria Bartomeu resign as president.
Despite the controversial 57-year-old's departure, Messi is yet to pen an extension on his current contract which runs until 2021, and talk of a transfer to Manchester City has surfaced once more.
However, Font - reportedly the favourite to become Barca's new president - believes that Messi still has a role to play on and off the pitch in Catalonia, with the 48-year-old quoted as saying by Sky Sports News: "When you are lucky enough to have the best player in the world in your team, you need to retain that talent.
"If Messi goes to a competitor we will not find an alternative easily as there is no alternative to Messi. So that's why retaining him in the short term is critical.
"But for us the association between Messi and Barca is a strategic relationship and we want to make sure we create the right conditions for Messi to play a role in the club even after he retires. Messi could contribute plenty of ideas.
"The good thing with Messi is he loves the club - as we all do - and I'm sure he is ready to take a long-term perspective and make a contribution so the club can manage the short term in the best possible way.
"When you have someone like Messi who loves the club and who the club wants to retain for many years, you have the framework to regenerate and build a winning team."
While Messi's future remains shrouded in uncertainty, La Liga president Javier Tebas has insisted that the Spanish top flight would cope with the loss of the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.
More transfer news from Manchester City:
Manchester City 'keeping tabs on Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria'
Manchester City are reportedly keeping close tabs on Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria after he rejected a new contract with the Bundesliga club. Read more.
