Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen has signed up to an agency with strong links to Lionel Messi's brother - fuelling speculation he is Barcelona bound.

Chelsea's Danish centre-half is out of contract at the end of this season and talks over a new deal stalled just before Christmas.

About the same time, Christensen teamed up with the KIN agency, in which Nou Camp legend Lionel Messi's older brother Rodrigo has huge interests, says The Sun.

Under freedom of contract rules, the Denmark star is now free to talk to rival clubs as his contract winds down at Stamford Bridge.

Christensen has traditionally been represented by his father Sten.

KIN also look after world-class players such as Manchester City's German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.