Barcelona star Lionel Messi is linked with move to Arsenal

Not content with producing even more rumours that Cristiano Ronaldo is poised for a move away from Real Madrid, the British press is also suggesting that Lionel Messi could be set for a switch.

We're taking this one with a sizeable pinch of salt, but a Daily Star exclusive reckon Messi fancies a move to the Premier League after growing frustrated with his tax issues in Spain. A judge ruled that the Argentine and his father, Jorge, should stand trial on tax fraud charges, after it was alleged that Jorge used offshore companies in Uruguay and Belize to avoid paying tax. This on-going issue has soured Messi's attitude to life in Spain, meaning a move to England could now be on. Arsenal are said to be his preferred choice, although the thought of paying him the reported £600,000-a-week wages he might expect will make Arsene Wenger's eyes water. This would mean that Messi would bag £18m-a-year after tax. If Wenger is still undeterred by prospect of paying out record-shattering wages, he'll also have to factor in how he'd stump up the £175m buy-out clause in Messi's contract.