CHELSEA OFFERED DECO FOR LAMPARD

Deco is a dual European Cup winner with Porto and Barcelona and was a key figure in the Catalans' brilliant march to glory last season.

But the Portuguese World Cup star's inconsistent start to this campaign is

worrying Barca insiders, who have seen their season begin to wobble seriously with defeat in the Champions League by Chelsea last week and then in La Liga on Sunday to bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Barca president Joan Laporta, a long-term fan of England midfielder Lampard, is pushing for a revamping of Frank Rijkaard's side – and Deco is the man they are prepared to sacrifice.

The news comes as Atletico Madrid yesterday again confirmed their interest in Chelsea's out-of-favour winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The Blues could now use that as bait to bring top target Fernando Torres to Stamford Bridge in a £25m switch.

Barcelona's plan to swap Deco, worth around £20m, for Lampard, rated at around £30m, was first mooted last summer.

Then, Chelsea were adamant that one of their most important players was not for sale.

But Jose Mourinho is an admirer of Brazilian-born Deco, a player he worked with at Porto when he steered them to Champions League success in 2004 and who he tried to sign when he first joined Chelsea.

Barca last considered the deal this summer, when Chelsea were on the point of luring Michael Ballack to Stamford Bridge. They were then prepared to make a straight cash offer for Lampard, with Deco as a possible back-up deal.

But the plans were put on ice as Rijkaard's team lifted the European Cup and Mourinho gave notice that Lampard was not leaving.

Lampard's fiancee, Elen Rives, is Spanish and from Catalonia – and he has recently said he loves the city.

Spain striker Torres is a target for Mourinho and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

But Atletico's long-standing interest in Wright-Phillips could provide the key to a

deal – possibly in January, but more likely next summer.