Zidane wants Hazard
Real Madrid are on the verge of clinching “a mega £210m deal” for Eden Hazard. Reports claim that money is no object to the Spanish giants such is their desperation to land the Belgian playmaker.
The 28-year-old has been linked to the Bernabeu for the best part of a year. Since Real’s head coach Zinedine Zidane returned to the club last month they seem to have made signing Hazard their priority.
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The Sun says that Real are prepared to offer Hazard “a whopping £110m six-year contract and pay the Blues £100m to sign him”.
Apparently the deal could be finalised this week. Reports in Spain claim the two clubs have “reached an agreement”.
With his Chelsea contract due to expire in 15 months’ time, the Blues know they must sell this summer or face losing Hazard on a free. They are therefore ready to accept Real’s offer.
As for the Belgian, his £350,00-a-week deal, spread over six years with Real, will make him one of the richest players in the game.
Hazard warning
The Daily Telegraph is more circumspect, claiming that while Real are indeed intent on prising Hazard from Stamford Bridge no agreement has been reached. Why? Because the Spaniards “do not want to pay much more than £85m”.
Apparently Real will make a “fresh approach” this week for Hazard but the Telegraph suggests there is still some way to go in the transfer saga.
Giroud to stay?
One Blue who may not be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer is French forward Olivier Giroud, says Sky Sports.
The former Arsenal striker has been tipped to return to France after a stop-start season with Chelsea, but Sky claims that Maurizio Sarri is confident Giroud will activate a year-long extension clause in his contract.
There have been rumours that the World Cup winner is “unsettled” because of his limited starting appearances this season, but when Sarri was asked if he intended to hold on to Giroud, the Chelsea gaffer replied: “Yes, of course. I know the club have an option for another season, so I think he will remain.”
Insigne’s future uncertain
Lorenzo Insigne is unlikely to remain at Napoli next season, says The Sun. Liverpool and Chelsea are leading the race to sign the 27-year-old winger.
Although the Italian club want to hold on to Insigne, the interest from the Premier League pair makes it likely that Napoli will be forced to sell their star asset in the summer.
Apparently the Reds and the Blues are both ready to offer bids in excess of £65m. In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Insigne admitted he was weighing up his options.
“It could happen that I receive an offer I can’t refuse,” he said. “I’ve proved what I am worth and there are people around who appreciate me. It is my duty to think, without being immodest, that over the years at Napoli I’ve shown what I can do.”
Lewandowski link
Bayern Munich and Poland frontman Robert Lewandowski is once more being mooted as a Chelsea target, reports Football.London.
Several other outlets also carry the news, claiming that Maurizio Sarri is losing patience with Gonzalo Higuain after his failure to fire since arriving from Juventus.
There are suggestions that Chelsea are in contact with the Pole’s agent but the main stumbling block is likely to be Bayern. Football.London claims it will take “a hefty transfer fee in the region of £70m to tempt the Bundesliga leaders into selling”.
Hammer time
Chelsea can move into third place in the Premier League table on Monday night if they beat West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are currently fifth, one point behind third-placed Tottenham and level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.
Monday’s London derby at the Bridge kicks off at 8pm and is live on Sky Sports.
Premier League results and fixtures
Results
- Southampton 1 Liverpool 3
- AFC Bournemouth 1 Burnley 3
- Huddersfield Town 1 Leicester City 4
- Newcastle United 0 Crystal Palace 1
- Everton 1 Arsenal 0
Fixtures Monday 8 April
- Chelsea vs. West Ham United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Friday 12 April
- Leicester City vs. Newcastle United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 13 April (3pm unless stated)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Huddersfield Town (12.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. AFC Bournemouth
- Burnley vs. Cardiff City
- Fulham vs. Everton
- Southampton vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Manchester United vs. West Ham United (5.30pm, live on BT Sport 1)
Sunday 14 April
- Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Liverpool vs. Chelsea (4.30pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 15 April
- Watford vs. Arsenal (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
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