Kylian Mbappe doesn't look happy at PSG, while Lionel Messi returns for huge game and Man City monitor young goal-machine.
Mbappe tantrum
Last week, the Transfer Window podcast reported Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has given the green light for the club to join the race to sign Mbappe next year.
City would have to compete with Real Madrid for the striker's signature after the Spanish giants had a €200m offer rejected by PSG in August. However, the Blues might be encouraged to learn that Mbappe clearly still wants to leave the French capital.
After being substituted in PSG's 2-0 win against Montpellier on Saturday, the 22-year-old was caught by the Canal+ cameras lamenting his Brazilian teammate Neymar.
He could be seen apparently saying, "that tramp wouldn't pass to me" when Neymar assisted Julian Draxler for PSG's second goal of the evening.
The apparent rift between Mbappe and Neymar is of course good news for City ahead of their clash with PSG on Tuesday, but also a sure sign that Mbappe will be open to pre-contract offers come January when he will have just six months remaining on his current deal.
Messi ready for Pep reunion
According to Loïc Tanzi of French outlet RMC Sport, Lionel Messi looks set to return from injury in time for City's Champions League clash against PSG on Tuesday evening.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner joined the Parisian side over the summer, following Barcelona's inability to offer him a new contract due to financial constraints.
Due to injury Messi has only made three appearances for PSG in all competitions this season, registering no goals or assists, but according to Tanzi he trained today ahead of tomorrow's game.
Should Messi play a part, then Guardiola's City will face him for the first time since City beat Barcelona 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium in November 2016.
Messi scored that evening in front of his old boss - both Pep and City will hope to contain him better at the Parc des Princes.
The next Mbappe?
According to Fichajes, City are monitoring another young French striker - Amine Gouiri of OGC Nice.
A product of the Olympique Lyon academy, the 21-year-old joined Ligue 1 rivals Nice in 2020 and has been banging in the goals ever since.
Last season, his first playing regular top-level football, Gouiri scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances in all competitions. The striker, who can also play as a left-winger, has started this season in a similar fashion with five goals and two assists in seven Ligue 1 games.
With numbers like that the France U21 attacker looks destined to move on next summer, but City will face competition from the likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Gouiri may not be on the level of Mbappe, but he would certainly be a lot cheaper.