Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Lionel Messi and Alvaro Morata Rumours

Chelsea have been linked with a sensational swoop for Lionel Messi after talks reportedly took place between the Barcelona star's father and Blues owner Roman Abramovich on the latter's yacht.

The report comes from an exclusive by Phil Cadden of the Sun. Significantly, the driving force of Cadden's article is Messi's recent 21-month suspended prison sentence for tax fraud, per BBC News, a development that could hasten his exit from the Camp Nou, according to Cadden:

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Barca immediately issued a statement supporting their player but Messi is known to feel that the club could have been more supportive during the case.

The fee for Messi would smash the £100million mark and SunSport understands that Messi’s father, who represents his superstar son, has met with Blues’ owner Roman Abramovich.

The meeting is believed to have taken place in the last ten days on Abramovich’s personal superyacht, the Eclipse.

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Cadden also added how Chelsea have followed Messi's case and believe the prolific No. 10 could be swayed by the verdict, as well as Barca's "failure to offer a new contract."

Messi was handed the jail term when his trial concluded. But Sky Sports La Liga expert Guillem Balague cited Margarita Batallas and J.G. Albalat of Spanish source El Periodico offering more details about the verdict:

Even with these developments, though, Chelsea actually being able to land Messi seems a little fanciful. For one thing, the fee would be an issue, even for Abramovich.

The Blues have already spent around £33 million to sign former Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, per the Guardian. New manager Antonio Conte also has other areas to fix, specifically refreshing an ageing defence.

Of course, no club would turn down Messi. But convincing the world's best match-winner to leave La Liga's champions will never be easy.

He's still the focal point of the team, even in a forward line featuring Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr. In fact, playing alongside two marquee names has only made Messi more of a threat.

Yet, he's 29 and endured some tough injuries last season, a campaign in which he couldn't match Suarez's scoring output. Things got worse for Messi when he retired from international duty after Argentina lost on penalties to Chile in the Copa America final for the second year in a row.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press/Associated Press

Now might seem like the right time to explore a deal for Messi, but it's more likely too soon to predict his immediate future lies away from the Camp Nou just yet.

Chelsea the Leaders for Morata

It may be more realistic to believe Chelsea can recruit another striker from the Spanish top flight. So it makes sense to read the Blues are front-runners for Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, according to Spanish publication Marca (h/t James Gray of the Daily Express).

The reports claim Chelsea are ahead of fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United in the race to sign the player, who could cost as much as £64 million. Conte is seen as a big factor in any deal, since he helped sign Morata for Juventus in 2014.

Conte also favours a 3-5-2 formation, per Gray, something that might explain why he wants another natural centre-forward after signing Batshuayi.

Conte's old club has confirmed Los Blancos exercised their buy back clause to bring Morata back to the Spanish capital, per Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports.

Morata has talent, notably strength and pace. He's quick enough to stretch defences and can also dominate in the air.

Still just 23, he's got room to grow and develop his incredible, natural potential into the makings of a top-class striker. Pairing him with Batshuayi would give the new-look Blues two burgeoning stars in attack sure to form a tough and prolific partnership.

Partnering Morata with Batshuayi is a more realistic proposition than signing Messi.