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      Arsenal ‘considering shock Eden Hazard transfer move’ with 32-year-old ex-Chelsea star mulling over Real Madrid future

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      ARSENAL are considering a shock move for Real Madrid star Eden Hazard, according to reports.The former Chelsea winger is supposedly holding showdown talks over his future with the LaLiga side open to letting him leave.
      Real Madrid seem to be willing to let Eden Hazard leave the club this monthCredit: Getty
      And he could have a surprise offer from the Gunners as they look to bolster their squad for the title race.
      Outlet Mediafoot claims that Hazard could go to Arsenal if their proposed transfer for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhailo Mudryk doesn’t materialise amid competition from Chelsea.
      Reports suggest that initial contact between Mikel Arteta’s side and representatives in the Spanish capital has been made.
      Hazard’s contract expires at the end of the next season and there has supposedly been interest from MLS teams, Fenerbahce and Al-Nassr.
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      The 32-year-old has found minutes hard to come by at Real Madrid this season, being an unused substitute on 16 occasions.
      He has featured only seven times, managing to score just once in all competitions.

      His big money move to Los Blancos back in 2019 has not gone to plan as he has suffered a number of injuries and because of the emergence of Vinicius Junior.
      Hazard was even recently mocked by a fourth-division player in the Copa del Rey as he was hooked off by boss Carlo Ancelotti in the 67th minute.
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      Demanding Real Madrid supporters also slammed his performance in the rare start.
      Hazard’s best days came in England with Chelsea, helping the Blues win two Premier League titles and two Europa Leagues.
      He would offer Arsenal experience and he is hoping to rejuvenate his career having also retired from international football with Belgium after a disappointing World Cup More

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      Barcelona ‘ready to sell three stars including Man Utd transfer target Ansu Fati… but make two players untouchable’

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      CASH-STRAPPED Barcelona are reportedly ready to have a firesale of stars as they look to balance the books.The club spent a combined figure of around £150m to bring in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde in the summer.
      Barcelona are reportedly willing to consider offers for a number of players to balance the booksCredit: Getty
      And in order to do this, they were forced to take drastic measures such as selling a 25 per cent stake of their in-house production company, as well as ten per cent of their TV rights for the next 25 years.
      To ensure they don’t end up in the same situation this summer, the club are willing to consider the sale of a number of big name players.
      Brazil international winger Raphinha is one of them, with the club hoping to recoup the £55m they paid to sign him from Leeds.
      Ferran Torres is also reportedly allowed to leave for the right price, having joined from Man City for £55m two years ago.
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      And perhaps most surprisingly, the club are said to be prepared to listen to offers for 20-year-old Ansu Fati.
      Fati was previously a top target for Man Utd, with the club reportedly agreeing a £135m deal to sign him in 2020 before Barca pulled the plug.
      Such was the high regard that the Spain starlet was held in, that the club handed him Lionel Messi’s number ten shirt following the World Cup winner’s departure.
      But journalist Jose Alvarez told El Chiringuito that Barca have not been satisfied with the performances of Fati and the two other players and could consider an offer in order to keep Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele.
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      Alvarez’s report labelled the 34-year-old Pole and World Cup finalist Dembele as the club’s only “untouchables” in the coming two transfer windows.
      Lewandowski has been in fine form since joining Barca, netting 18 goals in 20 games.
      And despite a disastrous performance which saw him hauled off before half time for France in the World Cup final, Dembele’s exploits for Barcelona have been much improved under Xavi.
      Ansu Fati could be sold in a surprise decision from the La Liga leadersCredit: AFP
      Raphinha could be sold after failing to impress since joining from LeedsCredit: Getty
      ‘Untouchable’ Robert Lewandowski will not be sold by Barca for any priceCredit: Getty More

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      Arsenal flop Lucas Perez scores twice on dream return to boyhood club after paying part of own transfer fee to seal move

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      LUCAS PEREZ scored twice on his Deportivo La Coruna return after paying part of his own transfer fee.The 34-year-old played 96 matches for his beloved Deportivo before leaving for Arsenal in 2016.
      Lucas Perez scored just 49 minutes into his Deportivo return
      The 34-year-old celebrates in front of his old fans
      Perez’s old club have had a rough time of it since he left, being relegated from LaLiga in 2018 and falling into the third tier two years later.
      Since leaving the Gunners, Perez has played for West Ham, Alaves, Elche and Cadiz.
      And, such was his determination to leave the latter and return to Deportivo, he paid a portion of his own £440,000 transfer fee.
      Perez played his first match since returning over the weekend, and it could hardly have gone any better.
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      Deportivo took on Unionistas de Salamanca, with Perez bagging twice in a 3-0 win.
      He sent the sizeable crowd wild on 49 minutes, when he calmly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home from close range to put his side 1-0 up.
      Team-mate Alberto Quiles made it 2-0 with a cheeky Panenka penalty on 66 minutes.
      And Perez rounded off a resounding win in stoppage time, slotting beyond the goalkeeper from 10 yards.
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      The result saw fourth-placed Deportivo stay within four points of top of the table Cordoba.
      After the match, an emotional Perez said: “It was special I’m going back home, to the Riazor. What I liked the most was the atmosphere, it was incredible.
      “It’s what we want, for it to be a party and for the fans to take us on flying, as it has been.
      “All day they were cheering and it gives us wings to continue and achieve the goal.”
      This is Perez’s FOURTH spell with Deportivo.
      He spent the 2014-15 campaign on loan there from Greek side PAOK, before making his move permanent the following season.
      Perez then played for Depor in their most recent LaLiga campaign on loan from Arsenal in 2017-18.
      Perez joined Arsenal from Deportivo in 2016Credit: Reuters More

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      Cash-strapped Barcelona forced to make £7.5m payout to flop Matheus Fernandes who played just 17 minutes

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      BARCELONA are reportedly being forced to pay flop Matheus Fernandes £7.5MILLION amid the club’s financial crisis.The Catalan giants have been attempting to balance the books for several years and remain in a perilous economic position despite signing a huge number of players over the past 12 months.
      Mateus Fernandes, left, will receive £7.5million from BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      The Brazilian filed a lawsuit after Barcelona terminated his contract in 2021Credit: Getty
      And they have now been hit with another blow following the reported verdict of Fernandes’ “unfair dismissal” case.
      Brazilian midfielder Fernandes, 24, arrived at the Nou Camp from Palmeiras in 2020 in a deal worth up to £8.4m.
      But he saw his contract terminated by Barcelona in the summer of 2021 – having played just 17 minutes of first-team football.
      This was despite the player having a contract with the Spanish giants until 2025.
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      Fernandes subsequently filed a lawsuit in which he sought more than £13m in compensation.
      The court did not agree with some of the funds he was claiming for – those which related to “non-material damages”.
      But, according to SER Catalunya, he has still been awarded £7.5m – the majority of which has been appealed by Barcelona.
      After being released back in 2021, Fernandes slammed the club by alleging they told him about the termination of his contract via email.
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      He said: “I didn’t understand it, I sent it to my manager and lawyer. They said it was my dismissal.
      “Time passed and my name came out in the press. No conversation, nothing, they didn’t even call to say hello and goodbye.
      “I always had the dream as a child to play for Barcelona. When I got there, they didn’t treat me as a footballer.
      “I told the director that he didn’t treat me like a professional Barcelona player.
      “I was a Barcelona player, and I wanted to be treated like one. The other signings had a presentation and I didn’t. I was upset.
      “Looking at it from the outside I thought one thing but when I got there they treated me differently.”
      Since being released by Barca, he has re-joined Brazilian side Palmeiras on a deal that runs until 2025.
      He had a loan spell at Athletico Paranaense last year.
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      And then earlier this month he went back out on loan to Red Bull Bragantino.
      Fernandes has scored two goals in 107 senior appearances since breaking through at Botafogo in 2017. More

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      Eric Garcia ready to snub Arsenal transfer to stay at Barcelona despite falling out of favour under Xavi

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      ERIC GARCIA is not interested in quitting Barcelona for Arsenal, according to reports.The Spaniard, 22, left Manchester City for boyhood club Barca 18 months ago.
      Eric Garcia has struggled for game time this seasonCredit: Getty
      But the move hasn’t yet worked out as he would have hoped.
      Garcia has struggled for game time under Xavi this season.
      Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing the Spain international centre-back.
      But according to Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo, Garcia would not consider the move.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      They add that he “only has in mind” to play for Barcelona.
      Garcia penned a five-year deal with the Catalan giants in the summer of 2021 while Ronald Koeman was still in charge.
      He was initially a regular, making 36 appearances in all competitions last term.
      But his importance has waned this time around.
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      Garcia has started only half of Barca’s LaLiga matches this season, and has been an unused substitute in the last four.
      Despite Gerard Pique’s retirement earlier this season he still faces stiff competition for places – with Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde all available to Xavi.
      The Barcelona boss even opted to start Marcos Alonso at centre-back ahead of Garcia for the recent Catalan derby draw with Espanyol.
      Despite Garcia’s lack of action, Xavi is determined to keep his current squad together for the remainder of the campaign.
      The 42-year-old wants to keep his squad intact as they fight on multiple fronts.
      Barcelona are three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
      They will also face Manchester United in the Europa League knockouts. More

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      Diego Simeone ‘to leave Atletico Madrid at end of season’ with club well behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in title race

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      DIEGO SIMEONE has told Atletico Madrid that he will leave the club at the end of the season, according to reports.The Argentine has brought unprecedented success during his 11-year stay at the club, winning two La Liga titles and reaching two Champions League finals.
      Diego Simeone is reportedly set to leave Atletico Madrid in the summerCredit: Alamy
      However, the club have had a horror first half of the season domestically and continentally.
      Following a 1-0 defeat at home to Barcelona, Atleti sit fifth in the table, outside the Champions League places.
      And they suffered an embarrassing Champions League campaign, finished bottom of a group containing Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge.
      Journalist Paco Garcia Caridad told El Chiringuito: “Simeone will not continue at Atleti in the coming season.
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      “He has told [President] Gil Marin that he will leave in January.”
      Simeone’s season so far has also been marred by a row with star talent Joao Felix.
      The Portugal star is reportedly on the verge of joining Chelsea on loan after falling out with the Argentine.
      Paco Garcia Caridad also suggested that Joao Felix was ready to agree a one-year contract extension with Atletico precisely because Simeone is set to depart.
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      Simeone led Atletico to the 2014 title with a famous draw at the Nou Camp in a final day clash in which either team could have won the league.
      And he repeated the feat in the lockdown season in 2020-21 as the club won their 11th title on the final day.
      However, he was not able to bring the coveted Champions League trophy to the club for the first time as he was thwarted twice by rivals Real Madrid.
      In 2014, a last minute Sergio Ramos header took the game to extra time where Real won 4-1.
      And in 2016 Atleti were beaten on penalties by the same opposition after a 1-1 draw.
      Simeone did get one over the club’s great rivals in one cup final though, famously beating Real at the Bernabeu to win the 2013 Copa del Rey. More

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      Chelsea face missing out on Marcus Thuram as Barcelona ‘scout striker ahead of summer transfer’

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      CHELSEA are facing an uphill battle to sign Marcus Thuram after Barcelona sent scouts to watch him, according to reports. Thuram, 25, is out of contract in the summer and consequently represents a cut-price option in a heavily inflated January market.
      Chelsea face missing out on Marcus ThuramCredit: Getty
      Chelsea are one of a number of sides who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, who can play as a winger or a striker.
      However, Barcelona are understood to be taking the most keen look at him.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, the club’s present financial situation is restricting them from being able to freely navigate the market.
      Therefore, they have been seeking cheaper alternatives – a profile Thuram fits due to the nature of his contract.
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      The report indicates the Spanish giants have sent scouts to watch the Borussia Monchengladbach star, with “favourable” reports being returned.
      Thuram is typically deployed through the centre in Germany, but during the World Cup he made his impact off the bench coming from the wing, showcasing his versatility.
      With him thought to be available for just under £10million as well, the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham and Liverpool have all retained an interest.
      But each of these clubs seem to have transfer target priorities which, for now at least, lie elsewhere.
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      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is said to have now stepped down from his role as interim sporting director, but it has not stopped the club pressing forward with deals.
      The Blues have verbally agreed to cough up the £10million loan fee for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, which they hope will alleviate some of their issues for the remainder of the season.
      Here’s how Thuram has performed in the Bundesliga this season More

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      Chelsea ‘verbally agree £10m Joao Felix loan transfer as they beat Man Utd and Arsenal to Atletico Madrid outcast’

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      CHELSEA have “verbally agreed” to sign Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season, according to reports.The Blues are ready to pay the £10million loan fee that Atletico Madrid are demanding for the forward.
      Joao Felix is eager to move to the Premier LeagueCredit: Rex
      Graham Potter’s side are also happy to cover the Portuguese star’s entire salary for the remainder of the season.
      Felix, 23, went into the January transfer window desperate to leave Atletico, having fallen out with boss Diego Simeone.
      According to The Athletic, Chelsea have won the race for his signature.
      They claim that Felix has snubbed interest from Manchester United and Arsenal after being “attracted by Chelsea’s project”.
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      The Daily Record add that he has already told pals he is moving to England.
      It’s claimed that Chelsea want to include an option to buy in the loan deal.
      But Atletico may have been waiting to see if they received a better offer.
      The Red Devils were reportedly told to stump up £70.5m at the end of the season for Felix, in addition to an initial £9.5m loan fee.
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      Arsenal, meanwhile, have been exploring options up top after the injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus.
      Felix is set to follow former Molde striker David Datro Fofana in joining Chelsea this month.
      And it’s claimed that the Blues could look to add another attacking player before the end of the window.
      Both Chelsea and the Gunners have been linked with Shakhtar Donetsk star Mykhailo Mudryk.
      But neither have so far been willing to stump up the £85m offer that the Ukrainian side have been demanding.
      The Blues have scored just 12 goals in 11 Prem matches since Potter took the helm.
      They have struggled to create quality chances, with their xG, shots on target and shots attempted numbers all among the worst in the Premier League over Potter’s 11 matches to date.
      Chelsea have already spent around £300m on transfers since Todd Boehly bought the club last year.
      In addition to Fofana and Felix, they also recruited Benoit Badiashile from Monaco earlier this month for £35m.
      After yesterday’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester City, Potter vowed that his team need to “stick together”.
      He said: “You can make excuses and look for reasons or say it isn’t good enough. Both of those answers are correct.
      “We have to keep improving and stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club and it’s not nice at all.”
      “You understand the supporters’ frustration, we respect that.
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      “There are always other opinions and negativity and criticism because the results haven’t been positive.
      “That’s part of the job and part of the challenge.” More