Ranking the Week's 25 Hottest Transfer Rumours: Lionel Messi Is Chelsea Target

Instead of scouring the internet for the latest football transfer gossip, Bleacher Report makes your life easier by providing you a weekly power ranking of the 25 hottest transfer rumours in one slideshow.

Whether it is the Bundesliga, Eredivisie, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A, alternative European leagues, or non-European leagues, this slideshow will be inclusive.

These 25 players will be subjectively ranked via a combination of two standards:

• Career accomplishments.
• Name recognition.

25. Jack Duncan

Will Russell/Getty Images

Perth Glory's Australian goalkeeper Jack Duncan, 21, will travel to Denmark and trial at Randers FC.

"As a footballer you want to play at the highest possible level and hopefully this may lead to that goal," Duncan said, per Peter Kapsanis at PerthGlory.com.au. "Playing in Denmark is an opportunity not to be missed and playing in Europe has been a long term goal for me."

A backup to Danny Vukovic, Duncan has been unable to demonstrate his talent this season at Perth Glory, the No. 1 club in the A-League.

Duncan will be thrown into the deep end.

24. Ched Evans

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Welsh centre-forward Ched Evans, 26, a convicted rapist, will not join Oldham Athletic.

Per OldhamAthletic.co.uk:

"

The whole issue has divided opinion and the club has been put under unbearable pressure as a result.

Proceeding [with signing Evans] could have placed significant financial pressure on the cub and continued to be a divisive influence.

As a consequence the deal could not go ahead.

"

Evans scored 35 goals in his final season at Sheffield United, so he is a quality No. 9 in lower league football.

The issue prospective suitors have is the signing of Evans could alienate a segment of the fanbase and create unnecessary pressure on the playing group, management and sponsors. 

23. Martin Odegaard

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Stromsgodset's Norwegian central attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, 16, may have finally decided his future after his much-publicised tour of Europe's major clubs.

Real Madrid will sign Odegaard for €4/£3.1 million, per Carlos Forjanes at AS.

Odegaard needs to negotiate he must average "x" amount of minutes per game for Real Madrid Castilla, because if the plan is to drop him into youth football, then he needs to cancel the deal.

It makes no sense for him to abandon football against seasoned professionals week in, week out in Norway to play against juniors in Spain.

22. Krystian Bielik and 21. Marcelo Brozovic

EuroFootball/Getty Images

Arsenal have had a €6.4/£5 million bid for Dinamo Zagreb's Croatian central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, 22, rejected, per Alex Harris at the Daily Star.

Brozovic is a graceful midfielder with excellent balance and has had class moments in the UEFA Europa League this season.

Meanwhile, Legia Warsaw's Polish central midfielder Krystian Bielik, 17, is adamant his move to Arsenal will happen.

Failing to add Brozovic may have prompted Arsenal to accelerate talks with Bielik, who is a long-term project.

"I realise that [Arsenal's] negotiations [with Legia Warsaw] may take some time," Bielik said, per Ed Aarons at the Guardian. "[But] I've made a decision [to join Arsenal] and I'm not going to change it."

20. Sacha Kljestan

Christian Hofer/Getty Images

New York Red Bulls are looking into signing Anderlecht's United States central midfielder Sacha Kljestan, 29, per Ives Galarcep at Goal.

Kljestan is a solid midfielder in a second tier European league, but Anderlecht are loaded with prospects.

It makes more sense for Anderlecht to give chances to Youri Tielemans and Leander Dendoncker than persist with Kljestan.

19. Rudy Gestede

Chris Brunskill/Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion are interested in signing Blackburn Rovers' Beninese centre-forward Rudy Gestede, 26, per Keith Perry at the Birmingham Mail.

Gestede has posted back-to-back seasons of 10 goals or more in the Championship for Blackburn Rovers.

It is smarter for Gestede to stay and lead Blackburn Rovers to promotion than sign for a bottom-tier Premier League club and play in the Championship next season.

18. Jozy Altidore

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney has confirmed his club will pursue Sunderland's 25-year-old United States centre-forward Jozy Altidore.

"[Altidore] has experience internationally and he's a big, strong forward. I think he can score goals in [Major League Soccer]," Vanney said, per Kurtis Larson at the Toronto Sun. "We'll throw our hat in the ring."

ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman tweeted his sources told him that the New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers and Toronto FC are vying for Altidore.

A year and seven months ago, Altidore completed his second successive season of 20 total goals or more for Dutch club AZ.

He scored 23 goals in the Eredivisie and 31 goals overall in his final season at AZ, so he should dominate in the MLS.

17. Matthew Lowton

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Swansea City will lodge a €2.6/£2 million bid for Aston Villa right-back Matthew Lowton, per John Percy and Matt Law at The Telegraph. 

Lowton has lost his starting position to Alan Hutton, hence Swansea City are looking to take advantage of the situation.

Should Swansea City sign Lowton, it would be another challenge for stalwart Angel Rangel, who has been with the Swans since 2007.

16. Danny Ings

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a bid for Burnley's English deep-lying forward Danny Ings, per Matt Law at The Telegraph.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is willing to spend up to €8.9/£7 million on Ings, a technically proficient, fleet-footed and creative forward. 

If Ings signs for Tottenham Hotspur, it all but ends Roberto Soldado's spell at White Hart Lane.

15. Gabriel Paulista

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Villarreal's Brazilian centre/left-back Gabriel Paulista, 24, is a prime January transfer window target for Arsenal, per L'Equipe (h/t Massimo Marioni at the Metro).

At centre-back, Gabriel has world-class potential. Though, when he has slotted in as a left-back, he has had issues. 

Watching Gabriel cut off a pass and surge forward has become a trademark. He reads play excellently and has adapted well in his second La Liga season. 

14. Joel Campbell

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Arsenal's Costa Rican centre-forward Joel Campbell, 22, is a January loan target for Real Sociedad and Villarreal, per Victor Franch at Marca.

The acclimatisation should be straightforward for Campbell, because he has La Liga experience and speaks Spanish. 

Campbell started 21 of 28 games for Real Betis and scored twice during the 2012-13 La Liga season.

13. Scott Sinclair

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Aston Villa are in talks to sign Manchester City's English left-winger Scott Sinclair, 25, per Sky Sports.

Sinclair has started two Premier League games in around two years and four months. While he has exponentially increased his personal wealth, his footballing career has stagnated. 

It is going to be difficult for him to switch back to the 2011-12 Sinclair, where he had moments of elite play. 

12. Suso

Brian A. Westerholt/Getty Images

Liverpool's Spanish right/central/left attacking midfielder Suso, 21, is a free transfer target for AC Milan executive vice president and chief executive officer Adriano Galliani.

"It's a viable hypothesis from July 1 when [Suso's] contract with Liverpool expires," Galliani said, per Press Association Sport (h/t Eurosport). "I've known him since he played for Spain's U19 team."

Even before the groin surgery, Suso running down his contract is presumably the reason why he has not received an extended starting run this season under Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

11. Rickie Lambert

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Crystal Palace are planning to sign Liverpool's English centre-forward Rickie Lambert, 32, per Andy Hunter at the Guardian.

When Lambert left Southampton for Liverpool, it was a sentimental decision, because he was let go by the Reds as a teenager. 

You presume Lambert will play out the season and then reassess his career, because he is a square peg in a round hole at Liverpool.

He has only scored once in 567 Premier League minutes this season.

10. Wilfried Bony

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Swansea City manager Garry Monk is open to selling Ivorian centre-forward Wilfried Bony, 26, only if Manchester City meet the Swans' rumoured €38.3/£30 million asking fee.

"There are talks between the two clubs and at this moment in time it's ongoing," Monk said, per BBC Sport. "It's important that whatever happens, whatever player that we try to make agreement with or sell, that it reaches the valuation that Swansea hold."

Bony is a brilliant No. 9, who is supremely athletic, gets himself into great attacking positions and is a game-changer.

But he is not a £30 million-valued footballer.

If he was five years younger, then OK, Manchester City paying £30 million would make more sense since they would be betting on his upside.

9. Emmanuel Adebayor

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur will shop Togolese centre-forward Emmanuel Adebayor, 30, to Major League Soccer franchises, per Gary Jacob at The Times.

Adebayor has been wayward, scoring only twice in 10 Premier League games this season while also dealing with private problems.

According to the sources of Tom Collomosse at the London Evening Standard, Adebayor has deep-seated problems with several family members.

It would be a significant risk for an MLS club to sign Adebayor because he is so inconsistent on and off the field.

8. Aaron Lennon

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Everton want to sign Tottenham Hotspur's English right/left attacking midfielder Aaron Lennon, 27, per Dave Kidd at the Daily Mirror.

Lennon works hard off the ball, is experienced and has a lethal first-step.

He can be an impact player for Everton as they attempt to reverse their fortunes.

If the Premier League table was based on the last six games, Everton would be bottom with three points, one win and a four-game losing streak.

7. Mario Balotelli

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Olympiakos have offered a loan deal to Liverpool's Italian centre-forward Mario Balotelli, 24, which will alleviate his struggles, per TuttoMercatoWeb.com (h/t Football Italia).

The link is not a surprise because Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola has an association with Olympiakos.

• Raiola was instrumental in Ibrahim Afellay and Pajtim Kasami moving to Olympiakos, per Transfermarkt.com.
• Gevorg Ghazaryan, another Raiola represented player, is on Olympiakos' books, per the Armenpress.
• In 2013, Raiola arranged Vladimir Weiss' transfer from Pescara to Olympiakos.

Balotelli is goalless in 737 Premier League minutes and counting this season.

6. Timo Hildebrand

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Eintracht Frankfurt's German goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, 35, will not be joining Seattle Sounders, according to his agent Jorg Neblung.

"Seattle are no option," Neblung said, per Kicker (h/t Stephan Uersfeld at ESPN FC). "And I can't discuss the other options."

Hildebrand, who was playing UEFA Champions League football for Schalke last season, can still play in Europe's top leagues, but perhaps he wants a change of scenery.

During Hildebrand's prime, he was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, recording a higher Kicker rating than Oliver Kahn during the 2003-04 season.

5. Ilkay Gundogan

Lars Baron/Getty Images

Borussia Dortmund's central attacking/central midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 24, is a €20.4/£16 million January transfer target for Manchester United, per Ben Jefferson at the Express. 

The reported £16 million is a pricey fee for Manchester United to pay when Gundogan looks better in an advanced position than in midfield. 

What Borussia Dortmund need is Gundogan waltzing past opposing defenders and creating goals rather than being an all-round midfielder. 

4. James Milner

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Liverpool are looking into signing Manchester City's English utility player James Milner, 29, per Oliver Kay at The Times. 

Milner would be a quality squad addition—especially at a discount with his expiring contract—to Liverpool.

He can play multiple positions and will generally always sacrifice individual glory for the betterment of the team.

3. Mats Hummels

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Manchester United are in the process of submitting a January transfer bid for Borussia Dortmund's German centre-back Mats Hummels, 26, per Ben Jefferson at the Express.

The timing is wrong.

Borussia Dortmund are not going to release Hummels, such an important member of the dressing room, during their fight to avoid relegation.

For Manchester United, it makes more sense for them to wait and see what Hummels can offer during Borussia Dortmund's bid to stay in the Bundesliga.

If Borussia Dortmund suffer relegation, then Hummels is available at a reduced fee, but it would also be a red flag not to sign him.

2. Petr Cech

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

If Chelsea plan on discarding Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech, 32, Arsenal could be a potential suitor, per Matt Law at The Telegraph.

Strengthening a Premier League rival would be a foolhardy decision by Chelsea, so management needs to reach an agreement with Cech, where he can leave for a non-English club.

Now second to Thibaut Courtois, Cech is arguably the best backup goalkeeper in the world.

1. Lionel Messi

David Ramos/Getty Images

Barcelona's Argentine deep-lying forward Lionel Messi, 27, is frustrated, unhappy and considering his options.

One being an improbable transfer to Chelsea, per Charles Perrin at the Express.

Messi has allegedly been routinely called out by Barcelona manager Luis Enrique, per Santi Gimenez at AS:

"

The confrontations between Messi and [Enrique] were becoming a habitual feature of the team's training sessions. On January 2 things came to a head when the Argentine fumed, 'I'll see you in the changing room.'

Other sources claim that the two very nearly came to blows. It wasn't the first dispute between the two but perhaps the most serious as it occurred in front of the rest of the squad, during a mini-practice match in which Luis Enrique disallowed a goal scored by the Argentine.

"

This should be a routine decision by Barcelona's board: sack Enrique, whose ego is getting out of control if reports are true that he is humiliating Messi in front of the playing group. 

If Messi leaves La Liga, then it could lead to a Real Madrid dynasty.

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.