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Chelsea transfer news and rumours: Blues contact Lionel Messi's dad; linked with the 'new Paul Pogba'; Roma push on with Petr Cech deal

A look at the latest gossip in and around Old Trafford

Wednesday 07 January 2015 12:59 GMT

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CHELSEA BOUND...

Lionel Messi couldn't really leave Barcelona, could he?

After fueling speculation on Tuesday by following Chelsea and Manchester City on Instagram, the Blues, like an intoxicated man on the dance floor of an Oceana nightclub, have now made the first move.

Spanish radio station RAC1 report that Chelsea have contacted the superstar's father, Jorge, and Messi's representatives to find out the 27-year-old's true feeling on Luis Enrique and a potential exit. Messi has a €250million release clause which Spanish newspaper Sport claim Roman Abramovich will be happy to meet, Financial Fair Play be damned.

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane continues to be linked with a £20m move to Stamford Bridge and Manchester United, though reports this morning seem to be re-hashed versions of yesterday's stories.

Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

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1/12Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Newspapers in Spain report that Chelsea had a mammoth £102m bid rejected for Real Madrid's Welsh winger. It seems unlikely given the Blues' adherence to FFP, while Los Blancos claim they do not want to sell.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Andrej Kramaric (Rijeka)

The Croatian striker is attracting interest from across the Premier League with Tottenham and Leicester also interested in his services. The Foxes even had a bid accepted but the 23-year-old rejected a move to the King Power Stadium. Kramaric has 28 goals in just 30 matches for Rijeka this season.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Paul Pogba (Juventus)

The former Manchester United midfielder has become one of the most sought-after players in world football during his spell at Juventus. Still only 21, the Frenchman, who has drawn comparisons with Patrick Vieira, has helped Juventus to titles in both his seasons in Serie A, while he impressed the world at the World Cup. Could cost upwards of £40m, but Juventus have claimed that he won't be leaving during the current transfer window as they want to build 'a team of champions'.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus)

The Ghanaian utility man can play on the left wing, central midfield, left-back and as a wing back and has become a crucial part of Juve's recent success. The Blues are linked with a £24m move for a player who would bolster their squad.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Kevin Strootman (Roma)

Manchester United and Chelsea are both believed to be interested in the Dutch midfielder, 24, who has played only three matches this season as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury he suffered in January. At his best, Strootman is a brilliant box-to-box threat.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Just about every top club in Europe is chasing the German star, who looks destined to leave struggling Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. But with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich potential suitors, it may take a lot to convince the 25-year-old to come to Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

A long-term target and personal favourite of Jose Mourinho's, Varane is already one of the world's best defenders. Classy in possession, a gifted athlete and smart reader of the game, Real Madrid would be foolish to allow the 21-year-old to depart.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen)

The German international is one of two Bayer Leverkusen players Chelsea scouts watched in the Champions League in midweek. Bellarabi, 24, is a pacey winger who has scored an impressive seven goals and added five assists for Leverkusen this season. With Mohamed Salah failing to get into the first team, Bellarabi might be seen as a perfect replacement for the Egyptian.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen)

The other Leverkusen player Chelsea scouts watched is a Turkish international born in Germany; the 20-year-old playmaker has also impressed for Roger Schmidt's team with six goals and four assists this season. Like Bellarabi, he would be considered one for the future rather than a first-team regular straight away.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Anderson Talisca (Benfica)

Chelsea were interested in the 20-year-old Brazilian in the summer but would not have been able to get a work permit for the former Bahia forward. He has flourished at Benfica, with nine goals this season with the club six points clear at the top of the Prineira Liga. Unlikely to move in January but a long-term target.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Munir El Haddadi (Barcelona)

The brilliant teenager is unlikely to be allowed to leave Barcelona as he likely has a bright future ahead. At just 19 has become a regular on the bench and in the first team for Luis Enrique.

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Chelsea: The players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge this month

Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina)

One of the hits of the 2014 World Cup, Cuadrado has put himself firmly on the radar of a number of clubs including Chelsea. Wolfsburg's reported interest in Andre Schurrle could lead to the Blues moving for Cuadrado to replace the German, but if Schurrle stays then any deal in January is unlikely.

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Somewhat improbably, the Daily Express have managed to link Chelsea with the 'new Paul Pogba' (has Pogba done enough to deserve a 'new' version of himself?). Rayan Souici is a highly-rated teenager in the St Etienne Under-16s, who is also being monitored by the usual suspects, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and others.

Chelsea also remain linked with the 'old Paul Pogba', Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

STAYING PUT...

The Independent's Sam Wallace revealed that Jose Mourinho will give Chelsea misfits Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle a chance to prove themselves until the end of the season. The pair of wingers have struggled for game time this season and not impressed when they have played.

Ramires has told the Evening Standard he has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge despite speculation linking him to Real Madrid and Juventus.

ON THE WAY OUT...

Reports in Italy suggest Roma will press ahead with a move for Petr Cech despite Jose Mourinho already saying he has no interest in selling the goalkeeper in this window. With Mark Schwarzer now at Leicester, selling Cech would leave Jamal Blackman as Thibaut Courtois' back-up - not a likely scenario for a team chasing four trophies.

Chelsea youngsters Nathaniel Chalobah and Todd Kane are close to loan moves as they look for first-team football. Chalobah could move to Ligue 1 with Bordeaux, according to the Daily Mail, while Kane is on his way to Nottingham Forest, report the Nottingham Post.

THE DEAL'S OFF...

Leicester should announce the deal for Andrej Kramaric at some point this week, after he chose the Foxes over Chelsea.

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