City owner Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been keeping tabs on Messi since taking control of the Sky Blues in 2008, and feels the time is right to go after a player some believe to be the greatest of all time.
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner has been in good form for the Catalan giants this season, scoring 40 times in 43 games under Gerardo 'Tata' Martino.
However the Argentinian international has suffered a number of injury setbacks, and has occasionally failed to produce his best in Barcelona's poor La Liga and Champions League campaigns.
Messi has struggled to reach the same heights that saw him score 73 goals two seasons ago, and many pundits believe he is stalling on a new contract in the hope that a move to one of Europe's emerging giants materialises.
Oil-rich Paris St-Germain have also been linked with the talismanic forward, but City believe their former Barcelona duo Txiki Beguiristain and Ferran Soriano can convince Messi to link up with fellow countryman Sergio Aguero and set the Premier League alight.
Barcelona could be tempted to cash in as they attempt to rebuild their ageing squad and replace veterans including Carlos Puyol and Victor Valdes.
Giving the green light would also allow Brazilian golden-boy Neymar to take centre-stage after failing to impress since joining from Santos for £50million last summer.
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