Pep Guardiola reportedly wants to raid former club Barcelona in a £150m double swoop which would bring Neymar and Sergio Busquets to Manchester City next season.
The Bayern Munich boss was confirmed as the next Citizens manager this week, and the Daily Mail understands that he is already planning major transfers.
Lionel Messi has been the name on the lips of City fans since Guardiola’s appointment, but he is seen as an unrealistic target, partly because of his strained relationship with the Spaniard.
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And therefore City’s attention is believed to have turned to Neymar, who would almost certainly become the world’s first £100m footballer if he were to move to the Etihad Stadium.
The Brazilian, contracted at the Camp Nou until 2018, is the rising superstar of the game and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time this year.
He was reportedly the subject of a £140m bid from Manchester United last summer, but could end up on the Blue side of the city and has admitted to wanting to work with Guardiola.
Neymar would be the marquee signing, but Guardiola apparently sees Busquets as an equally important figure in his attempts to make City a major force in Europe as well as at home.
The 27-year-old midfielder has spent his entire career at Barcelona, winning three of his five La Liga titles, and two of his three Champions League trophies under Guardiola.
The Daily Mail claim that Busquets regards the incoming City boss as a ‘footballing father’, and that Barcelona would respect his wishes if he wants a reunion at Eastlands.
The World Cup-winning Spain international would cost in the region of £35m, and City’s former Barca executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain could broker a deal.
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