Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Lionel Messi and Top Blues Rumours

Sanity seems to be prevailing regarding rumours Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Barcelona star Lionel Messi. Manager Jose Mourinho has rebuffed claims about acquiring the world's best player, but that still hasn't stopped some from trying to play six degrees of separation regarding this lavish-sounding rumour.

The Chelsea boss was asked directly about Messi in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Premier League-leaders' game at Sunderland. Here's what Mourinho said to pour cold water on the Messi talk, per 101GreatGoals.com:

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My reaction is that the media world changed so much that the football world also changed so much.

And I think, in this moment, it’s so easy, so easy to have non-truths circulating.

It’s so easy that some people put news without confirming or speak about rumours.

Obviously [Messi going to Chelsea] is not true. Obviously it’s not true.

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Words from the man himself ought to be enough to put this one to bed, even though modern managers can often be sly with the press. However, for those wanting to believe there's still life in this rumour, an elaborate sponsorship deal could provide some hope.

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The Blues are reportedly ready to strike a deal with Turkish Airlines, per Daily Mail writer Charles Sale:

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Chelsea are close to agreeing the second biggest Premier League shirt sponsorship ever with Turkish Airlines. A £25million-a-year deal is expected to be finalised by Christmas.

The negotiations with the big spending airline, famous for its Lionel Messi and Kobe Bryant TV adverts, were first revealed by Sports Agenda last September.

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Just for good measure, there's a Messi connection, per Turkish-Football.com: "Turkish Airlines also struck deal with Barcelona and Manchester United recently and have been involved in a promotional campaign with Lionel Messi and Chelsea star Didier Drogba."

These are the kind of sponsorship deals that can help a privately funded club like Chelsea balance the demands of Financial Fair Play. The Blues have worked harder in this area since Mourinho returned last summer.

The mega-money sales of Juan Mata and David Luiz have formed the backbone of those efforts. But any attempts to stay closer in line with FFP will look like mere lip service if Chelsea were to push through a deal for Messi.

That rumour took root courtesy of Express reporter David Wright:

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The Argentina captain has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and earlier in the month hinted he could leave Barca at the end of the season.

...

And today's reports in Spain suggest Messi is finally ready to make the move next summer, with Chelsea at the top of his list of destinations.

Manchester City, United and Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the 27-year-old, who has a buy-out clause of £200m, with the former recently ending their interest.

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Of course, any team on the planet should want Messi. For now though, it's probably best to file this under the heading "stuff of dreams."

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Meanwhile, Turkish source FotoMac.com (h/t Sport Witness) suggests young centre-back Kurt Zouma is ready to join Besiktas this January:

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Now there are reports in Turkey that a loan with Besiktas is all but agreed and is set to be announced soon. It certainly isn't out of character for Chelsea to loan out players and Zouma may benefit from the chance of playing in the Turkish league.

Besiktas president Fikret Orman was quoted this week as saying 'We are going to make a few signings during the transfer window. We will sign a right-back and a centre-back, both will be foreign also we will invest in a young forward. We are not interested in Petr Cech but we are working together with Chelsea to sign a player.'

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Zouma only joined Chelsea in January this year. The one-time St.Etienne prodigy signed for £12 million. Still just 20, Zouma is a player of considerable promise.

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It's a little surprising Chelsea would consider parting company with Zouma, if only on a temporary basis. Quality cover at centre-back is the only area where Mourinho's star-studded squad looks short.

The Blues have been very reliant on starting pair John Terry and Gary Cahill so far this season. Now 33, Terry is a player who will certainly need and benefit from a breather or two as the campaign wears on.

In this context, a loan move might suggest a lack of confidence in Zouma's short-term potential. However, it could be that Mourinho is already preparing to make room for an even more highly touted young defender.

Real Madrid's £19-30 million-rated 21-year-old rock Raphael Varane still remains on the Chelsea radar, per Daily Star reporter Alex Harris. The Portuguese boss gave Varane his start at Madrid and remains an ardent fan of the player.

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Signing Varane would represent regeneration at the back, giving Chelsea a natural successor to Terry. Yet that regeneration would look a lot better if Varane was joined by countryman Zouma.

The current transfer gossip surrounding Chelsea is relatively muted, aside from that fanciful Messi rumour, which makes its own noise. But the general lack of activity is understandable when considering the ample strength within Mourinho's balanced squad.

But any activity involving the situation at centre-back is worth keeping an eye on.