Manchester City are ready to 'break the bank' and bring Lionel Messi to the Premier League next summer.

The Barcelona superstar has been long linked with a move to City, and since the appointment of Pep Guardiola those rumors have only increased.

Now reports from England via The Mirror say City will find €233m for the Messi deal, in what would be one last ditch attempt to the player.

€116m would go to Barça, while Messi would receive €30m each year on a four-year deal until 2021.

Barça are confident in keeping the player however, and talks over a new deal have taken a first step with the club initiating contact with Messi.

Messi sat out Barça's draw with Malaga on Saturday, citing illness.