The facts and figures behind Manchester City's rumoured interest

Day in day out, Manchester City continue to be mentioned with name after name in the press. In the last couple of weeks, continuously the club have been mentioned with four names. Asmir Begovic of Stoke, Iker Casillas of Real Madrid, Lionel Messi of Barcelona, and former Manchester United player Paul Pogba. With the deep pockets of owner Sheikh Mansour the club have been continuously linked with some of the world's top stars since his purchase of the club from Taskin  Shinawatra in 2008.


Iker Casillas:

The former Real Madrid captain has won almost everything the game has to offer as a player for both club and country. An ever present in the Real Madrid side since 1999, the relationship with the Spaniard and the club became soured under Jose Mourinho's reign at Real. The now Chelsea manager felt Casillas had far too much input in the dressing room than he should have and was dropped. Since the power struggle at Madrid in early 2013, Casillas has been linked with Manchester City almost weekly as competition for Joe Hart. With Hart's current form a worry for boss Pellegrini may he opt for a reunion with Casillas. After Mansour and Madrid President Perez were spotted having a meeting, Casillas rumours have generated once again. Signing Casillas won't come cheap to City. His transfer few will no doubt be in the €25m mark with his wages also becoming extremely high. His current wage at Real Madrid is an estimated €175,000 a week.

Asmir Begovic:

Begovic is arguably the best goalkeeper in the league alongside Tottenham's Hugo Lloris. The Bosnian who made the move from Tottenham three years ago is in the form of his life and also finding the back of the net recently too. His commanding presence and fine shot stopping has many of the top clubs in England scouting the Stoke keeper. Former Manchester City assistant David Platt announced during the summer that the club had already agreed a deal with the Bosnian prior to his and Mancini's sacking in May last year. He's definitely a much cheaper option to Casillas and is currently in the form of his life. At £15m would the signing of Begovic prove to be a bargain.

Lionel Messi:

This really is one rumour that is failing to die. The Argentine and current world player of the year is constantly being discussed about a summer move to Manchester. Rumours broke out a fortnight ago that super agents including Jorge Mendes were trying to broker a deal for the Argentine to the Etihad next summer. Talks have being on going since 2009 according to many reports however the prospect of leaving Barcelona hasn't interested in four time Ballon d'Or winner until now. Manchester City vice captain Pablo Zabaleta last night announced that Messi has become increasingly talkative about City's Champions League ambitions. Messi's buy out clause with the Catalonia giants is an estimated €250,000,000. An incredible deal however the price may not be as big as it may seem. Adidas, Messi's sponsor, has supposedly offered to pay the signing on fee should a deal be in place simply because of the marketing revenue they will receieve. Is the biggest deal in possible the history of Sport ready to take place?

Paul Pogba:

The former Manchester United youth is turning into one of the best midfielders in Europe currently. His power, pace, strength and technique has the Frenchman dubbed as the next Patrick Vieira. Signed for a €6.7m after compensation because of his age, Pogba is no doubt going to cost any club €40m+ because of his age and potential. City's elite development coach Patrick Vieira is a known admirer of Pogba and has requested the club try prize away one of Juventus' most cherished assets. Any move for Pogba won't come cheap in his price tag, however is wages would be one of the lowest at the club with performance bonuses used as an incentive for him.

In the unlikely chance City were to sign all four of these stars, the combined fee could be a whopping €600m for these stars including fees, signing on fees, and wages. How many of these rumours will become fact come the summer of 2014?