Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been convinced a move to Real Madrid is his best option by his former team-mate Thibaut Courtois, according to reports.
Hazard has confirmed he won’t leave in January but after spending time with Courtois on Belgium duty this week it seems his head may have been turned.
Spanish publication OK Diario claim Courtois has acted as an ‘adviser’ for Madrid during Belgium’s win against Switzerland and draw with the Netherlands in order to sweet talk Hazard.
Hazard and Courtois formed a close friendship during their time together at Chelsea and the goalkeeper, who arrived at Madrid in the summer, is keen for the forward to join him at the Bernabeu.
The report claims Courtois has told Hazard about what life is like in the Spanish capital and given him assurances he has no regrets about leaving the west London club.
Transfer news: Thibaut Courtois is hoping Eden Hazard joins him at Real Madrid (Image: GETTY)
Hazard just like Ronaldo
Eden Hazard is playing the transfer market just like Cristiano Ronaldo did before he moved to Real Madrid, according to Wes Brown.
“You know what, it’s the same situation as Cristiano Ronaldo when he was at United,” Brown told Express Sport.
“Between the lads in the dressing room, [we’d ask him]: ‘Who’s your favourite club?’ And he’d say: ‘I’ve always wanted to play for Real Madrid’. [Hazard has] not lied. It’s not like he’s playing rubbish for your club.
“He’s doing the best that he can and it’s just a boyhood dream he’s always had – it was the same with Ronaldo. You ask any United player or fan if he disrespected the club, they’d say: ‘Completely not.’ It’s just one of his dreams.”
Transfer news: Eden Hazard is playing the market just like Cristiano Ronaldo did (Image: GETTY)
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Eden Hazard to snub Real Madrid?
Eden Hazard is ready to accept Chelsea’s contract offer and commit his long-term future to the Blues.
The Belgium international was tipped to join Real Madrid in the summer.
And according to Italian outlet Gazetta dello Sport, Hazard is ready to commit his future to Chelsea and snub Real Madrid.
They say the Blues have offered their talisman £300,000-a-week to say in west London - and the winger is ready to accept in the coming weeks.
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Kerem Demirbay talks
Liverpool have reportedly entered talks to sign Hoffenheim midfielder and Germany international Kerem Demirbay.
That’s according to Turkish-Football, who claim Liverpool are ‘in contact’ with Demirbay’s representatives about a potential transfer to Anfield.
The report continues to add that Demirbay, 25, is represented by the same management group that also represent Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.
The central midfielder, who has two international appearances for Germany, has been closely linked with a return to Borussia Dortmund in recent weeks.
Demirbay spent 12 months with Dortmund’s reserve side during Jurgen Klopp’s tenure before being sold to Hamburg.
However, Liverpool could well beat their Champions League rivals to the punch with Klopp reportedly considering activating Demirbay’s £28million release clause.
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
The next Andrea Pirlo…
Brescia are prepared to sell their talented teenage midfielder Sandro Tonali… but he’s going to cost a substantial amount!
Tonali, 18, has attracted a number of top European admirers after his impressive displays in Serie B.
He also drew plaudits for performances at last summer’s Under-19 European Championships in Georgia.
Sky Sports claim Juventus, Inter Milan, Napoli, Arsenal and Chelsea are all monitoring Tonali, who has been dubbed the ‘next Pirlo.’
Calciomercato report that Brescia President Massimo Cellino (formerly owner of Leeds) will consider selling Tonali for £22million.
It’s also been said that Blues boss Maurizio Sarri ordered his scouts to watch Tonali during Brescia’s 4-1 thrashing of Padova - a game in which Tonali grabbed two assists.
Juventus want Rashford
The Sun are reporting that Juventus are considering an audacious offer for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
Rashford, 20, has made seven appearances in all competitions under Jose Mourinho this season, but has completed just one 90-minute fixture.
It’s a different story for Rashford under Gareth Southgate. The striker is pivotal to England’s Nations League campaign - playing every minute of their last four fixtures and returning three goals.
The Sun claim his England exploits have captured the attention of Juventus, but do not mention whether they would be willing to meet his £65million valuation.
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Daniele Rugani snubbed Chelsea
Daniele Rugani rejected the opportunity to join Chelsea over the summer, reports claim.
Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge and immediately looked to his native Italy for defensive reinforcements.
Rugani, 24, was on his shortlist but multiple offers couldn’t lure the centre-back away from Turin.
“Chelsea made a very strong push to negotiate, Juve evaluated it, but the player never asked to leave,” Rugani's agent Davide Torchia told RMC Sport. “His objective was to earn his place in the starting XI.
“Juventus believed in the player and we’ll discuss it during the contract renewal talks. It expires in 2021, so there is no urgency, but we cannot wait too long either.”
Ignore Dejan Lovren - Moreno
Barcelona should NOT attempt to sign Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the summer - because he is not better than what they already have, says Alejandro Moreno.
“There are holes at Barcelona in that backline,” Moreno said. “Their inability to defend in one on one situations would call for some sort of change, for a modification, for adding pieces that Barcelona needs.
“Those Barcelona needs come because they are mistake-prone in the backline. Dejan Lovren is also mistake-prone.
“As good as he has been at times for Liverpool, there’s always a mistake in him. I wouldn’t be, if I was Barcelona, going after Dejan Lovren.
“I just don’t see him as the sort of guy that can play out of the back comfortably and be good with the ball and clean with the ball.
“The more he does that, the more I think there are mistakes in him. I don’t think so.”
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Tiemoue Bakayoko staying… at AC Milan
Tiemoue Bakayoko will NOT return to Chelsea in January.
That’s according to respected Italian agent Federico Pastorello, who acted as the intermediary of Bakayoko’s loan move to AC Milan.
Recent reports have suggested that Bakayoko would return to Stamford Bridge in January having failed to impress Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who arrived at Chelsea from Monaco for £40million, has completed just 82 minutes of Serie A action for AC Milan and was thought to be surplus to requirements.
However, Pastorello has told Italian website Calciomercato that Bakayoko will complete his full season-long loan deal.
Bakayoko is happy at AC Milan and the club is happy with what he is doing”, Pastorello told Calciomercato. “We knew he would take time to adapt, but everybody believes that he will help the team during the season. Any speculation about his return to Chelsea is simply untrue.”
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: REUTERS)
Eden Hazard promise
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has vowed the club will do ‘what they have to’ to keep Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium international's contract with Chelsea runs until June 2020 and the London club want him to renew his contract.
European champions Real Madrid have been heavily linked with his services and Hazard has done little to distance himself from the rumours.
But speaking at a football business event in Doha, club chairman Buck promised to ‘entice’ the 27-year-old to stay.
"Every Chelsea fan in London and around the world loves Eden Hazard," Buck said.
"And he's not only a great footballer but I think he's a wonderful lad. We want him to stay and we will do what we have to do to entice him to stay. Let's see how it goes between now and the end of the season.”
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Toby Alderweireld hijack
Barcelona have joined the race to sign Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, according to the Mirror.
The Belgium star was wanted by Manchester United in the summer but ended up staying.
His contract has a clause in which will allow him to leave on the cheap this summer, so Barcelona could tempt Tottenham to sell in January.
They have big fitness problems over Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen so need another centre back.
Wanted: Dejan Lovren
Barcelona could make a shock move for Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in January to ease their ever-growing injury crisis, according to reports in Spain.
The La Liga giants have lost France defender Samuel Umtiti to injury until the beginning of the new year at the very least.
Fellow centre-back Thomas Vermaelen is also out for six weeks after suffering a thigh strain while away on in terminational duty with Belgium.
That leaves them with just two fit centre-halves - Gerard Pique and summer signing Clement Lenglet.
And Spanish media outlet Mundo Deportivo claim Liverpool defender Lovren is on a shortlist of potential players they could bring in to help them.
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Hazard must shine
Eden Hazard must shine in the Champions League if he completes his dream move to Real Madrid, says Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
“He's got to do it in the Champions League, simple as that,” Nicholas said. “He's got bits and pieces on the biggest stage but nothing consistent.
“He's magnificent technically, he's the best footballer in the Premier League and the most exciting. But he goes from fabulous to average in alternate seasons so he's got to do it back in the Champions League.
“Whether that's at Chelsea or Real Madrid is another story.”
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Aaron Ramsey to Everton claim
Aaron Ramsey has been backed to join Everton - because he would not be a regular in any of the top-four teams in the Premier League, says ESPN FC pundit Alejandro Moreno.
“Aaron Ramsey, if he was going to sort himself out with Arsenal I think it would have happened by now,” Moreno said. “It feels like that situation is now done with.
“So therefore he has to find a place to go. Why not Everton? Theo Walcott went in that direction.
“No, I don’t think Aaron Ramsey’s too good for Everton. I think he would be an important piece for Everton.
“Where else would he go? You’re alluding and perhaps hinting at the fact that maybe he should go to a top-four team.
“He would have the same circumstances in a top-four team, perhaps even worse, than he does at Arsenal in terms of playing time - where does he break through?
“Where is it he is going to get consistently on the field? I just don’t see Aaron Ramsey breaking through in any of those teams.
“So, for that reason, I do believe that Everton may just be a good destination for him.”
Transfer news LIVE | Express Sport is on hand to bring you all the latest rumours and gossip (Image: GETTY)
Marcus Rashford shows off sharp skills in training
Paul Scholes on Jose Mourinho
Paul Scholes has launched an attack at Jose Mourinho once again.
The former Red Devils and England ace has often slammed the Special One for United's dour performances under him at Old Trafford.
And while Scholes is desperate for Mourinho to turn United’s fortunes around, the England hero says the situation might be too far gone.
When asked by ESPN whether United’s stars aren’t playing for Mourinho, Scholes said: “It's hard for me to say because I was never in a team, be it Man United or England, where I went out with the intention of getting a manager sacked. I never went out and thought ‘I’ll not try’.
“I’m not saying that any Man United player has ever done that but you hear so much stuff now that you think it could be possible.
“I'd hate that if it's true, if any player set out to play badly on purpose. I've had loads of bad games, but never on purpose.
“The big thing with United is the effort and the attitude. When you looked at the West Ham game last week, it looked like the biggest sign of players not wanting to play for Jose, but I would not sack him.”