Griezmann to replace Hazard at Chelsea?
The winter window opened Jan. 2. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest rumours and gossip. See the latest deals here.
TOP STORY: Griezmann as Hazard’s replacement
Eden Hazard’s well-documented struggles this season have led to speculation that the Belgian international could be allowed to leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are both said to be interested, and the Stamford Bridge brass might be willing to cash in on the reigning PFA Player of the Year if a bid of around £80 million is made. Indeed, Guus Hiddink has already admitted the decision is out of his hands.
With that in mind, the Mail said plans are already afoot to replace Hazard with Atletico Madrid’s star striker, Antoine Griezmann, next summer.
The 24-year-old’s contract is believed to have a £60 million buy-out clause, and Atleti could be tempted to allow the Frenchman to leave if they need to fund a rebuild before their FIFA-imposed transfer ban kicks in.
Mail on Sunday Sport:
Chelsea eye move for £60m Atletico forward#tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers #cfc pic.twitter.com/XM6l2LB4Cm
– Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) January 30, 2016
PAPER ROUND
Remy soon to be a Fox?
Leicester City’s unprecedented title challenge looks set to get a timely boost with reports that Chelsea have accepted an £11.5 million offer for Loic Remy.
The Independent reported that Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri is desperate to land a striker before the winter window shuts and is chasing Remy after missing out on Eder, who joined Inter Milan during the week, and AC Milan hitman M’Baye Niang.
Remy, 29, has scored eight goals in 28 appearances for Chelsea but has struggled to displace Diego Costa in the Blues’ starting XI.
De rumour that won’t go away
Hazard isn’t the only Premier League star that Sunday’s papers have linked with a move to Real Madrid.
According to the Mirror, Los Blancos are also planning a bid for Manchester United keeper David De Gea — stop us if you’ve heard this one before?
Yes, it seems Real president Florentino Perez will not allow another summer to pass by without securing De Gea’s long-awaited return to Spain.
But what will Man United get in return? The paper said Madrid will offer around £23 million for the Red Devils’ No. 1 and will also slip De Gea a £6.5 million signing-on payment as a little sorry-we-messed-up-last-time sweetener.
Sadly, it feels as though this saga might run for another six months, at least.
More bad news for United
De Gea’s probably-not-all-that-imminent departure isn’t the only transfer news filtering out of Old Trafford. The Express said Manchester United’s owners, the Glazer family, have demanded cuts of 15 percent across all departments of the business.
If the reports are true, United’s renowned youth academy will suffer a severe blow, while there might also be changes to Louis van Gaal’s first-team squad.
Veteran midfielder Michael Carrick could be the first man shipped out to ease financial pressures. Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle and a host of Major League Soccer teams are said (by the Sun) to be interested in the 34-year-old, whose contract expires in July.
TAP-INS
– The Sun has linked Everton with a move for Lokomotiv Moscow’s Senegalese striker Oumar Niasse. The deal could cost Roberto Martinez upwards of £13.5 million.
– Florian Thauvin appears to be heading back to his former club, Marseille. The Shields Gazette said Newcastle are prepared to allow their summer signing to return to France on a six-month loan.
– Free-agent Greece international Georgios Samaras is on the brink of joining Major League Soccer’s DC United, according to the Washington Post.
– Wellington Phoenix have announced that Jeffrey Sarpong and the club have reached a mutual decision to terminate the former Netherlands U21 international’s contract.
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