Barcelona have bid for Angel Correa rejected as Lionel Messi opens talks over Chelsea transfer
Nou Camp boss Luis Enrique fails in move for 'hugely talented' Atletico Madrid striker as talisman eyes sensational exit
BARCELONA have had a bid for Atletico Madrid striker Angel Correa rejected as Lionel Messi talks to Chelsea.
SunSport exclusively revealed on Wednesday that the Nou Camp icon’s father met Blues owner Roman Abramovich on his £1.5bn superyacht to discuss a transfer.
Luis Enrique is desperate not to let the five-time Ballon d’Or winner leave the club.
And the boss is keen to add extra firepower to his squad this summer to take the pressure off Messi and superstar strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar.
The Catalan boss believes that Atleti ace Correa is the perfect candidate.
The deadly MSN frontline netted 131 goals between them last season as Barca won the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey.
But the failure to defend their Champions League crown – losing to Atletico in the quarters – led to suggestions the terrifying triumvirate were suffering from burnout.
Enrique was left to rely on rookies Munir and Sandro to provide backup – but the pair managed just 11 goals between them in all competitions.
Correa, 21, joined Atletico from Argentinian side San Lorenzo in 2014 but his career was halted after he required surgery on a heart tumour.
He finally made his debut for Diego Simeone’s side last season and netted nine times in 24 league appearances.
A Barcelona source told AS: “He is a footballer we have been following for a long time.
“He is hugely talented and has a romance with the goal when he has confidence.”
Calderon boss Simeone has no intention of letting the prospect leave and has promised him a greater role at the club this term.
It may take a mega offer to tempt the club and player, who is loyal to Simeone, to do business.
But Barca will not be short of money should Messi complete a sensational switch the Stamford Bridge, with the fee likely to reach well over £100million.
They may instead move for team-mate and compatriot Luciano Vietto if a deal cannot be done.
The pair have both been selected to play for Argentina at the summer Olympics in Rio next month, which will rule them out of the start of the club season.