LIONEL MESSI'S father has held secret meetings with Chelsea on Roman Abramovich's yacht, according to reports.
The Sun say that the west London club are attempting to woo the Barcelona forward who was convicted for tax fraud earlier today.
Messi was sentenced to 21 months in jail, but is unlikely to serve any time as convictions under 24 months in Spain can be spent on parole
Chelsea are said to have been monitoring the case which saw both Messi and his father convicted.
The family were ordered to pay £3m and the Blues are hoping that they want a clean break.
The report says that Chelsea are prepared to pay £110m for the 29-year-old and will up his his eye-watering £600,000-a-week to £800,000-a-week
The Sun add that Manchester City are interested in Messi but their new boss Pep Guardiola appeared to rule out a move insisting that the Argentine should retire at Barcelona.
They have held talks over the last nine months but Chelsea are thought to be growing in confidence of a deal that would rock the world or football.