Paper Round: Chelsea to break bank for Lionel Messi

Messi set for sensational Chelsea switch? Chelsea are willing to pay Barcelona’s mammoth £200 million buy-out clause in order to offer the superstar a six-year contract. This is the sensational story coming out of the Daily Star, who report that “sources close to the Barcelona star insist the Blues have made it known they are willing to pay his £200m buy-out clause. But they also claim Chelsea are willing to meet his wage demands - which could double the total cost of the deal.”

Paper Round’s view: This story continues to gather pace but is there really anything in it? Reports on Tuesday suggested that Messi may be at war with boss Luis Enrique after he failed to turn up to training on Monday. This after his benching against Real Sociedad on Sunday and the sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and the resignation of Carlos Puyol. Furthermore, if this move were to go through then Messi would have to come out and explicitly – and publicly - say that he wanted to leave the club. No Barcelona president would want to be tarnished as the man who let Messi leave the club. If Messi leaves it will have to have been on his say so.

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Rickie Lambert on Palace radar: Out of favour Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has been linked to an unlikely move to Crystal Palace to join new manager Alan Pardew. Despite the long-term injury to Daniel Sturridge and the lack of form of Mario Balotelli, Lambert has been offered precious few chances to shine and made only his 10th start of the season against AFC Wimbledon on Monday. And according to The Guardian, “Pardew is anxious to bolster his strike force in the January window and has inquired about the availability of the Liverpool forward, who he signed for Southampton from Bristol Rovers in 2009.”

Paper Round’s view: It seems absolutely bizarre that Brendan Rodgers hasn’t afforded a striker, who impressed for England on the back of his Southampton performances last season, more first team appearances. It’s right that Pardew should sound out the man who he signed for Southampton but, with Liverpool's striking woes showing little sign of abating, it is more likely that he’ll stay put until the summer, especially with Lille resisting all advances for Divock Origi until then.

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Milner tops Liverpool wanted list: Staying on the subject of Liverpool, the Merseyside giants have identified Manchester City midfielder James Milner as their primary target, according to the Times. Liverpool have been rocked by the news of Steven Gerrard’s recent departure to LA Galaxy at the end of the season and are already planning for life after their talismanic midfield general. The paper’s Oliver Kay reports that “the Merseyside club are in pole position to sign Milner on a free transfer at the end of the season after the breakdown of his contract negotiations with City. Milner has informed City team-mates that he believes there is little chance of him staying at the club beyond the expiry of his contract this summer after he was told last week that there will be no improvement on the offer he rejected last month.”

Paper Round’s view: Liverpool will be keen to placate fans with a big signing as soon as possible but is this not a deal that smacks of desperation? Granted, Milner has impressed for City this season but is no spring chicken, in footballing terms, at 29 years of age. A move that may be good for the player himself but surely not one that will have Liverpool fans jumping for joy. If Liverpool see Milner as a like-for-like replacement for Gerrard, then that is a huge downgrade. Luis Suarez and Gerrard were Liverpool’s two most influential players in their highly impressive season last year. They failed to adequately replace Suarez and it looks as though they might be about to make the same mistake again.

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United lodge January bid for Hummels: Borussia Dortmund have rejected Manchester United’s opening bid to sign defender Mats Hummels. Hummels has been a long-term target of Louis van Gaal but according to the Daily Express, which states “reports in Italy suggest that United have lodged an opening bid with Dortmund over a prospective January transfer. Hummels has previously been valued at anywhere between £30m and £50m, and while it is not currently known where United's opening bid fell within that range, a sizeable fee is surely necessary if the Old Trafford outfit have any chance of pulling off a deal.”

Paper Round’s view: This story is nothing new and although Dortmund insist the central defender is not for sale, every man has his price – especially considering United’s supposed open cheque book. Despite Dortmund’s surprising form in the Bundesliga, they will surely stay up with or without Hummels so selling actually makes sense. Let’s be frank, Dortmund are second bottom of the Bundesliga and Hummels must take his share of responsibility for their plight. He is not playing like a £30-50 million centre back and there is no guarantee that he ever will again therefore if United are willing to stump up that cash then Dortmund would be foolish not to.