Sunday May 04 2008 12:24
Reports suggest
Chelsea will attempt to land Barcelona's Argentina international Lionel Messi in an audacious £80million summer swoop.
The News Of The World suggests the Blues' billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, will make Messi his number one target at the end of this season and is willing to break the world transfer record to get his man.
The Sunday newspaper quoted a source close to the proposed deal as saying: "Roman is convinced Messi could change the whole face of Chelsea and is willing to spend what it takes to get him.
"He has always wanted that type of player. Under Jose Mourinho he accepted the football because it was bringing in the trophies but he got bored.
"(Avram) Grant wants to change things but has explained it takes time and a lot of money to alter the style.
"Now is the time for Roman to finance that change. Chelsea are attractive because of the wages on offer and they are in the Champions League final."
Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech believes Grant's squad is stronger than the one Jose Mourinho led to the Premier League title two years ago.
He told the BBC: "I would say the team is at least on the same level and maybe a little bit better than two seasons ago.
"This is because this year has been tough as we started from behind and had to chase United. That is difficult to do so the quality we have shown is at least the same."
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