Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini refuses to comment on Lionel Messi rumours

Manuel Pellegrini has refused to discuss fresh rumours linking Manchester City with Lionel Messi. After successive defeats, City boss Pellegrini insists the clash with Southampton is his priority, not fuelling speculation the club are preparing to make an audacious £800,000-per-week (Dh4.4m) offer for the Barcelona superstar. On the positive side, David Silva and Wilfried Bony are available again as City look to bounce back from last week’s Premier League mauling by Liverpool and Wednesday’s Champions League loss at Juventus.