Barcelona are confident they've staved off Premiership interest by making Lionel Messi the best paid player in their history. The Sun says Barca have given Messi a £48million deal in a bid to stave off interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.

The Argentina midfield ace is on a £160,000-a-week, six-year contract, making him the highest-paid player in Spain.

Messi, widely regarded as the world's best player, is a long-standing target for Chelsea.

Manchester City's new Arab owners were also preparing a summer raid.