Chelsea assistant manager Steve Holland has dismissed the idea of the club signing Barcelona's Leo Messi, stating it's "almost impossible" and insisted the club will not be busy during the January transfer window.
Chelsea had been suggested as one of the few clubs who could afford the unsettled playmaker under Financial Fair Play regulations, with the speculation supposedly given credence by ongoing discussion between Messi's camp and the London club.
Holland however specifically cited FFP in dismissing the link.
"Jose Mourinho has made it quite clear that nobody comes or goes. I recall he said something similar last year but a couple of things happened which meant we had to be reactive. The hope and expectation is that nobody comes or goes."
"When you look at some of the numbers mentioned around the Messi deal, you would think it is almost impossible."
Holland was standing in for Mourinho because of the manager's unwillingness to talk public after an FA charge for misconduct over his claims there is a "campaign" to influence referees' decisions against Chelsea.
"There's a frustration with all of us, not just Jose, with an accumulation of event that culminated at Southampton with the booking of Cesc [Fabregas]," Holland said.
"We're all together on this, but we have to move on."