Paper Talk: United eye Hazard; Kane, Oxlade-Chamberlain links

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Eden Hazard and Harry Kane all linked with moves.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hazard and Kane linked with moves.

Manchester United are targeting a £65million summer swoop for Eden Hazard, while Chelsea want Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Real Madrid are watching Harry Kane, according to Friday’s newspapers.

 

UNITED KEEN ON HAZARD DEAL

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a £65million bid for unsettled Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard.

According to the reports, United have decided to make the move for the Belgian forward after admitting defeat in their quest to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.

Hazard has cut an increasingly frustrated figure at Chelsea over the past six months and United have reportedly taken heart from his situation.

Hazard, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich, has endured a miserable season at Stamford Bridge, with reports suggesting he has already made up his mind to leave the Premier League champions.

A United source told the Daily Star: “The club has to be realistic and realise that signing Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo remains a long shot, which means alternative targets come into the equation.

“Eden Hazard is certainly one of those and the type of player United need if they want to start winning trophies again.”

It is understood United’s owners the Glazer family have given executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward the green light to try and lure Hazard to Old Trafford on a deal worth around £250,000-a-week.

But the Daily Express reports Chelsea hope that appointing legend Didier Drogba as first-team coach will help persuade Hazard to stay.

 

CHELSEA PONDER OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN MOVE

The Sun claims Chelsea will target a move for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a replacement for Hazard.

Hazard is understood to have decided to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain both keen to sign the Belgium international.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been in and out of the Arsenal side due to injuries and has struggled to hold down a place in the first team.

Jose Mourinho was an admirer of the midfielder, and Chelsea’s interest in the England international remains despite the Portuguese’s sacking.

 

REAL MADRID PLOT HARRY KANE SWOOP

 

Real Madrid are looking at the Tottenham striker Harry Kane as a potential recruit in the long-term as the club approach a new era of rebuilding, according to the Daily Telegraph.

With Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at the club at a crossroads and another generation of big names required, the Telegraph claim Spurs striker Kane is among the many names they have watched in recent months.

Real’s interest was piqued 12 months ago when Kane scored seven goals in eight games including the two goals against Chelsea on New Year’s Day, which was rewarded with a new contract the following month.

Madrid’s relationship with Spurs is better than most with a decent ­understanding built with Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, over the signings of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale.

The Spanish club have paid close attention to the 22-year-old ­Englishman for more than a year and although there is no prospect of a sale this month, he is regarded as the kind of player who would suit their acquisition policy of the ­biggest emerging names in Europe.

Kane is due an improved Spurs deal over the next four months that will take him above the club’s ­highest earners, Hugo Lloris, ­Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, who are paid around £60,000-70,000 per week. It is much less than he might anticipate earning at an established Champions League club but this time next year he may be able to command the kind of fee that would make Spurs listen.

There were overtures from Manchester United last summer which Spurs were in a position to ignore and while there is no ­appetite to sell Kane now, ultimately the Madrid route is a much easier one for Spurs to take than to sell to ­domestic rivals.

 

AND THE REST

  • Sevilla’s Poland midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak says Arsenal remain interested in signing him (Daily Star)
  • Chelsea will go back to Everton with £40m for John Stones in the summer but face competition from Barcelona (The Sun)
  • Manchester United have put together a staggering £400m wishlist including some of football’s biggest names – Gareth Bale, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Thomas Muller (The Sun)
  • Lazio have told Manchester Untied to make their move for Felipe Anderson (The Sun)
  • Jordon Ibe is the latest victim of Liverpool’s hamstring curse and will miss Friday night’s FA Cup tie at Exeter (The Sun)
  • Manchester United are ready to test Everton’s resolve with a £40m summer bid for free-scoring Romelu Lukaku (Daily Mirror)
  • Cardiff have put a £10m price tag on goalkeeper David Marshall – a target for Everton (Daily Mirror)
  • Stoke are interested in Porto midfielder Giannelli Imbula (Daily Mirror)
  • Carlo Ancelotti rejected the chance to rejoin Chelsea as manager in November, before his move to Bayern Munich was announced (Daily Mail)
  • Borussia Dortmund could be tempted if Arsenal bid £60m for newly-crowned African Footballer of the Year Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Daily Mail)
  • Christian Benteke still has to persuade Jurgen Klopp he has a long-term Liverpool future (Daily Mail)
  • Manchester City are in talks with Central Coast Mariners over Australian midfielder Anthony Caceres (Daily Mail)
  • Everton have denied an agreement to allow the likes of John Stones to go in the summer (Daily Express)
  • Stoke are considering a record bid for West Brom striker Saido Berahino (The Guardian)
  • Napoli have rejected a £14m Swansea bid for forward Manolo Gabbiadini (The Guardian)
  • Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino admits the Championship club want to sell defender Sam Byram before his contract expires in the summer – but has promised fans he won’t cash in on teen midfielder Lewis Cook, who has been linked with Premier League Bournemouth (Daily Mirror)