Manchester City are breaking down the numbers to see if they can sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona without breaching any Financial Fair Play rules.
City know any deal for Messi will be complicated.
Barca's official stance is that Messi is not for sale and any interested parties will be referred to his €700 million release clause. But there is some interest amongst Barcelona's board in listening to offers if Messi continues to push for a move.
Messi is out of contract in 2021 and met with new coach Ronald Koeman last week to discuss his future. Messi is 33 and wants to spend his final seasons competing for the game's biggest prizes.