The transfer window for Europe’s biggest clubs is closed, but click here for all the deals and keep track of who has joined the big boys. And Transfer Talk will continue to scour the world’s media and set correspondents loose to see what’s on the agenda for the summer.
TOP STORY: Chelsea brace for Hazard exit
Eden Hazard‘s on-off departure from West London could be about to reach its apparently inevitable conclusion. The Telegraph reports that the Belgian is ready to tell Chelsea that his future lies with Real Madrid and not at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard revealed that he has decided on his future in an interview with French radio station RMC, as part of a documentary on his career, which is due to be aired Wednesday. The interview was carried out two months ago but appears to suggest that Hazard already had his heart set on a move to the Bernabeu — a long-held desire he has made no attempt to conceal as his contract runs down at Stamford Bridge.
His comments won’t have created too much surprise at his current club. Last week, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri told the media that although he hoped the Belgian star would stay, he would have to leave if his mind was made up.
He won’t be cheap, though. Despite only having a year to go on his Chelsea contract, the club still values him at more than £100 million — a figure that Madrid could hope to lower by making Mateo Kovacic‘s loan in West London permanent as a sweetener.
What would life after Hazard look like for the Blues? Well, Christian Pulisic will arrive in the summer, and Hazard’s departure could open up more opportunities for Callum Hudson-Odoi, which could force the 18-year-old into rethinking his desire to join Bayern Munich.
But despite the promise of Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi, the Telegraph reports that Chelsea would look for a big-name replacement for their No. 10. One name they could turn to? Philippe Coutinho, who could return to the Premier League just 18 months after making a dream move to Barcelona from Liverpool.
Spurs plan summer raid for Norwich starlet
They might not have spent a bean in the past two transfer windows, but Tottenham seem increasingly hungry to add to their squad.
The Mirror claims that the title chasers are closing in on Norwich right-back Max Aarons, who has already turned heads at Arsenal and Chelsea, too. Although the Canaries are flying in the race for promotion to the Premier League, the Mirror reports that Spurs are keen on sealing his signature before the summer window opens.
Norwich have slapped a £15m price tag on the player, but that figure is unlikely to put off the vultures circling over Carrow Road.
Globe-trotting Morrison headed for Sweden?
It’s snow joke. Sweden could be the next stop for the globe-trotting Ravel Morrison. The former Manchester United star is training with Ostersunds.
No contract has been signed, but a statement from director of football David Webb on the club’s website suggests that Morrison could make the Allsvenskan the latest stop in a career that has promised much but delivered little to date.
Morrison has made just four appearances at Lazio since moving to the Serie A giants in 2015 and has drifted in every sense since departing Manchester United in 2012. The 26-year-old has spent time at West Ham as well as loan spells with Birmingham, QPR and Cardiff City. He spent last season in Mexico with Atlas — an aptly named side for a footballer still desperately trying to find himself.
Now the Swedish club will hope that the magic in his boots can be rekindled. And the cold of a Swedish winter can wait. Morrison has joined his new potential teammates at a training camp in Marbella.
Tap-ins
– Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko wants his temporary stay at AC Milan to become a permanent one, despite having three years left on his deal at Stamford Bridge. “Who wouldn’t like to stay at a club like Milan for a long time?” Sky Sports reports he’s quoted as saying by French newspaper Nice-Matin.
– Spurs are keeping a close eye on Leeds starlet Jack Clarke. That’s according to the Mirror, with the paper writing that Mauricio Pochettino won’t be put off by Leeds’ insistence that the 18-year-old isn’t for sale.
– Italy’s Tuttomercatoweb claims that Chelsea had a £44m bid for Italian midfielder Nicolo Barella accepted in January before the proposed deal collapsed. The player eventually decided to remain with Cagliari.