Lionel Messi is believed to be frustrated with his current contract situation at Barcelona, and is keen on linking up with his former Barca teammate Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea.
But the Blues will have to more than double the world transfer record, with Barca looking for as much as £200m for the superstar.
However, it’s believed that Chelsea’s kit manufacturer adidas could broker a deal, in a bid to win one over Barcelona’s makers Nike. (The Express)
Iker Casillas has put Liverpool on red alert, with rumours circulating that he’s looking to leave European Champions Real Madrid.
Casillas was dropped for Tuesday night’s Champions League win against Basel, with Costa Rican Keylor Navas replacing him between the sticks.
And with Real looking to lure Man United’s David De Gea during the summer, Casillas is now looking elsewhere for his future, with Liverpool supposedly ready to swoop for the disillusioned shotstopper (The Express)
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has said that in-form winger Yannick Bolasie is not for sale, amid rumours linking Liverpool with the player.
Bolasie impressed for Palace in Sunday’s 3-1 win against Liverpool, but Warnock threw cold water over the move, saying: “Oh no, he won’t be going anywhere in January, no chance.
He’s a great lad anyhow. The top clubs won’t know what he can or can’t do, how can they come in for him. I’ve think he’s made to measure at Palace if I’m honest.” (Talksport)
Arsenal will have to pay £31m in January if they are to sign Palermo striker Paulo Dybala.
But the Gunners may wait until the summer to sign the Argentine 21-year-old, when it’s believed the Italians will settle for a reduced fee.
Dybala has scored five times for Palermo in the Serie A this season, who sit 13th in the table. (The Star)
Manchester United look to be top of the queue to sign French defender Layvin Kurzawa from Monaco.
The 22-year-old is highly sought after, and it’s believed that United is his club of choice.
United could make an undisclosed bid for the defender in January, with Louis Van Gaal looking to reinforce his depleted squad. (Talksport)
Another defender reportedly on United’s radar is Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar, but Arsenal are preparing to hijack the deal.
Vlaar can sign a pre-contract for a potential summer free transfer at the start of January, but the Gunners are so keen on the Dutchman, they’re preparing an £8m deal to land him immediately. (The Express)
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has stoked the flames ahead of Andy Carroll’s return to St James Park with West Ham, by saying he’d love to see the player rejoin Newcastle.
Carroll swapped his hometown Magpies for Liverpool in a £35m switch almost four years ago, and after failing on Merseyside he has settled under Sam Allardyce at the Hammers.
But Newcastle boss Pardew has now continued to pour petrol on a roaring fire by saying he’d love to see Carroll back in the black and white.
“I think he would (want to come back one day), and I hope he does come back to his hometown,” he said.
“So I’m not going to hide from the fact that I like him. I’m not sure that it’s something that’s imminent for us in this window, because he looks fairly happy to me at West Ham.” (The Daily Mail)
