Premier League: Chelsea cool Lionel Messi talk and don’t plan January moves

CHELSEA assistant manager Steve Holland distanced the Premier League giants from a move for Barcelona’s Argentina star Lionel Messi.

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi, from Argentina, gestures after scoring against Elche during a round of 16 first leg Copa del Rey soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

CHELSEA assistant manager Steve Holland distanced the Premier League giants from a move for Barcelona’s Argentina star Lionel Messi.

The Stamford Bridge club have been linked with an approach for Messi whose future in Spain has been thrown into doubt because of a breakdown in relations with Barca coach Luis Enrique.

The four-times world player of the year has a $375 million buy-out clause in his contract with the La Liga club.

Lionel Messi is unlikely to have a new home in west London.

But his wage demands mean that any move for the player would require a total outlay of around $936 million.

Chelsea are one of the few clubs believed to have the resources to fund a deal of that size, but Holland believes Financial Fair Play regulations would prohibit a move.

And Holland insists Blues manager Jose Mourinho has no intention of making changes to his playing squad during the current transfer window.

“With Financial Fair Play, many players have been sold to balance the books. That has been the case in the last 12 months,” said Holland.

“But when you see the numbers that have been mentioned around the Messi deal I would think it looks impossible under Financial Fair Play.

“I think Jose has made it clear in this window nobody leaves, nobody goes.

“I recall he said a similar thing at this time last year and a few things happened that meant we had to be reactive. Manchester United made a huge offer for Juan Mata and there was an offer for Kevin De Bruyne.

“Jose was happy to keep them. But sometimes you have to react. But the hope and expectation is that nobody comes or leaves.”

Mourinho will take charge of his side against Newcastle this weekend, 48 hours after being hit with a FA misconduct charge for comments he made in the wake of his side’s draw at Southampton.

The Chelsea manager condemned referee Anthony Taylor’s display after midfielder Cesc Fabregas was booked for diving when television replays showed the player was fouled inside the Southampton penalty area.

That was the latest in a succession of controversial decisions to affect Mourinho’s side.

And while Holland insists the manager remains unaffected by the charge, he insisted Mourinho’s frustration was shared throughout the club.

“Jose’s been fine today. He’s very focused on the game against Newcastle. We lost away to Newcastle only very recently. We are very determined to put that right,” he said.

“There is a frustration with all of us, the coaching staff and the players, not just Jose with an accumulation of events which surfaced at the Southampton game with Cesc.

“We are all together in this. But we have to move on.”

Originally published as Premier League: Chelsea cool Lionel Messi talk and don’t plan January moves