Man City transfer news: Pep Guardiola targets Barcelona star Andres Iniesta

Pep Guardiola is planning to bring one of the Barcelona old guard to the Etihad, claims the Sunday Mirror.

According to the paper, the Manchester City supremo has his beady eye on Andres Iniesta and the veteran playmaker could be tempted by the prospect of a new challenge. The 33-year-old Iniesta has won all the honours going with Barcelona, but since the arrival of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in January on a record £142m deal his influence is said to be “dwindling” at the Camp Nou.

As The Sun points out it was only last October that Iniesta signed a “lifetime contract” with the La Liga giants. But with a modern football contract having all the clout of an Arsenal defender, a move to City could still be arranged at the end of the season.

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City manager Guardiola is “keeping tabs on the situation and is keen to reunite with his former player”, says the Sun, despite his age and the fact that Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Fernandinho have been impressive for the Sky Blues this season.

But the Spanish gaffer believes that his former Barcelona charge – who could miss the Champions League with Chelsea after tweaking a hamstring in yesterday’s win against Atletico Madrid – still has a good two years of football left in the tank. His experience would certainly be welcomed at the Etihad as Guardiola looks to keep a grip on City’s dominance, which they extended yesterday with a 1-0 defeat of Chelsea.

Iniesta has recently hinted he’ll retire from international football after the World Cup in Russia this summer. But the Mirror says he’s looking for a suitable way to “bring the curtain down on his exceptional career” and that could entail a swansong in England with City.