May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is set to break soccer's transfer record after offering Barcelona 80 million pounds ($157.7 million) for Argentina playmaker Lionel Messi, the News of the World said.

Russian billionaire Abramovich told coach Avram Grant that he wants the team's style of play to be more exciting next season and believes Messi, 20, would help Chelsea achieve that, the newspaper said.

The current record fee is the 46.5 million pounds that Real Madrid paid to Juventus for three-time FIFA world player of the year Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

Abramovich is yet to decide if Grant will remain in charge, while Frank Arnesen, the club's director of youth development, may be fired, the News of the World added.

Grant has led the Blues into the final of Europe's elite Champions League and the club also remains in contention for England's Premier League title.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Cone in London at jcone@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 4, 2008 10:24 EDT