Transfer Talk: Is Messi a half a billion pound man bound for City or Chelsea?

Is Lionel Messi worth half a billion pounds?

The Lionel Messi rumours continue to grow, either there is something in it or it is easy copy for the tabloids, either way he leads up Friday's edition of Transfer Talk.

Lionel Messi is ready to quit Barcelona this summer, but only if he is offered a mammoth 500million package.

The Sun have made the bold claim that Messi is ready to listen to offers from Chelsea and Manchester City at the end of the current campaign but only if the Premier League pair will offer a package in the region of 500million, which could include the 200million release clause in his deal with Barcelona.

Barca, of course, will be desperate to keep hold of the Argentina international - regardless of the fact that they are currently banned from using the 2015 winter and summer transfer windows.

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is eager to bolster his defensive options but will not move for Ron Vlaar in January, according to the Daily Star.

Vlaar faces around six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury and Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert does not expect the defender to leave this month as a result of the knock.

The Daily Mirror have claimed United will instead move for Borussia Dortmund's 35million-rated centre-half Mats Hummels, who has voiced his frustrations over BVB's poor start to the Bundesliga season in recent weeks.

United are also keen to tie down David de Gea to a new deal and the Daily Star claim the Old Trafford side are ready to double the keeper's wages to around 140,000 a week to ward off interest from Real Madrid.

One player who could be heading out of Old Trafford is Adnan Januzaj. Sport in a Storm have claimed Aston Villa have made an enquiry for the winger and they hope to pair him with Manchester City's Scott Sinclair on the flanks. It is thought Van Gaal doesn't want to lose Januzaj permanently but is keen for the youngster to head out on loan to gain more first-team experience.

Sunderland and Hull City have been boosted in their pursuit of South Korea international Chung-Yong Lee as Bolton Wanderers boss Neil Lennon has revealed talks have broken down with the winger.

Lee, who is currently away on Asian Cup duty, is out of contract in the summer but the two Premier League suitors may have to move for the player in January or run the risk of him agreeing pre-contract terms with a club in Europe during the winter transfer window.