What the papers say
Eden Hazard has been linked with a return to the Premier League after an underwhelming stay with Real Madrid. The Belgium playmaker has failed in Spain to recreate the form that saw him score 110 times for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, with just seven goals in his last three-and-a-half years with Los Blancos. The Express cites Media Foot Mercato as reporting Arsenal will look to sign the 32-year-old if they fail to pick up Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk – who is himself being courted by the Blues – while Newcastle are also understood to be interested in Hazard.
David Moyes needs more firepower up front and he thinks the answer might be Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri. West Ham have scored only 15 goals in 18 league games this season, prompting relegation fears from some quarters. Moyes has tried to secure En-Nesyri previously before baulking at Sevilla’s £40million valuation, but The Times says the Hammers have made a renewed approach to sign the 25-year-old striker on loan for the rest of the season.
Nottingham Forest have entered negotiations to sign Brazil midfielder Danilo from Palmeiras for £18m plus extras, according to the Mail. Forest tried to sign the 21-year-old, who won three trophies in 53 appearances for Palmeiras in 2022, last summer but failed and now face competition from Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.
The Times says Chelsea have also increased their interest in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram. The 25-year-old forward, who is the son of France World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, is out of contract with Gladbach in the summer. The paper adds that the Blues are also weighing up a move for PSV Eindhoven’s England Under-21 forward Noni Madueke, who spent his youth career with Crystal Palace and Tottenham before moving to the continent.
Social media round-up
Newcastle to launch Moussa Diaby transfer raid with Bayer Leverkusen star also being targeted by rivals Arsenal https://t.co/4rwmxgTkOB
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 9, 2023
Nasser Al-Khelaifi met with Daniel Levy as Qatar set its sights on acquisitions across European sport.#TelegraphFootball
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) January 9, 2023
Players to watch
Joao Felix: Atletico Madrid want to extend the contract of the Portugal forward, 23, by one year until 2027 before letting him join Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season, according to Spanish outlet Marca. But The Times reports the Blues have already reached an agreement with the Colchoneros.
Georginio Rutter: Sky Sports, citing Sky in Germany, says Leeds are in advanced talks to sign the 20-year-old French forward. Hoffenheim could make a club-record £35.3m from the deal.
