By Rob Parrish Last updated: 17th April 2008
Kaka and Messi: Chelsea targets
Chelsea manager Avram Grant wants to bring Kaka and Lionel Messi to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues boss has already pledged to spend big in this summer's transfer market and has now made the unusual step of naming two of his top targets.
Milan ace Kaka is the current World Player of the Year, while gifted young Argentina international Messi regularly lights up Camp Nou with his stunning displays for Barcelona.
Grant has struggled to win over sections of the sceptical Chelsea support who feel he has failed to match up to the standards set by Jose Mourinho.
The Israeli's only realistic hope of silverware this season now appears to be the UEFA Champions League, with an enthralling clash with Premier League rivals Liverpool on the horizon.
Monday's 1-1 home draw against Wigan left Chelsea five points adrift of Manchester United in the Premier League title race, and Grant has vowed to act ahead of next season.
He told the Daily Star: "We need to do something. We want to be more consistent and of course I need players who can help with this.
"Will it take a flair player like Kaka or Messi? I will not reject that one of those names will be here.
"Will they come? I think so, yes. This is a big club."
He added: "Only one team can win the Champions League. Only one team can be champions of England.
"You think players will only come to these two teams? No.
"It's not about how many players - it's about which player you can bring. We want a different style of football. If a player is good for this, we want to take him.
"I am already planning. We're speaking about it all the time for the long and short-term."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
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