Transfer News: Man Utd Eye Audacious €64m Move | Chelsea Braced For €88m Bids

With the January transfer window fast approaching managers are formalising their plans to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Manchester United are eyeing an audacious €64m move for Mario Gotze while Chelsea are bracing themselves for interest in Eden Hazard.

Man Utd eye Gotze

According to the Daily Star, Man Utd are eyeing a shock move for Bayern Munich playmaker Mario Gotze as Louis van Gaal gears up for another summer of lavish spending.

The newspaper is one of several to be reporting this morning that United chiefs have told van Gaal he’ll have another sizeable transfer kitty to work from next summer as the club look to build a squad full of world class players who can challenge for top honours next season.

The Dutchman has already starting to draw up a list of his key targets and the Star claim that he’s identified Gotze as a player he’d love to lure to Old Trafford and a €64m move could now be in the offing.

United brought in a number of big-money signings last summer with Radamel Falcao, Angel di Maria, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera all making the move to the former champions, and it seems we can expect a similar splurge this coming summer.

Gotze would obviously be a sensational coup if they could pull it off but I’d personally be hugely surprised if the German international even contemplated leaving Bayern Munich any time soon. He only made the move to the Allianz Arean from bitter rivals Dortmund 18 months ago and he’s a key part Pep Guardiola’s formidable side, so why would he want to leave his homeland?

Chelsea braced for Hazard bids

Next up and the Express are reporting that Chelsea are bracing themselves for €88m bid from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid for Eden Hazard but the Blues are confident they can persuade the attacker to sign a new deal.

Hazard has played a key role in Chelsea’s sensational start to the season that’s seen them go unbeaten in all competitions, with his 7 goals and 7 assists helping them qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League and hold a six point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Understandably, the 23-year-old’s form has attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs and the Express claim that both PSG and Real Madrid are readying €88m (£70m) bids for the Belgian international and could make their moves as early as January.

However, the newspaper suggests that Jose Mourinho is confident he can persuade Hazard to remain at Stamford Bridge and the club are set to offer him a new contract to ensure he commits his future to the West Londoners.

Mourinho said of his star players recently:

“If they’re happy to be here, like Eden is showing, he will sign a new contract sooner or later.

“They can basically be the Chelsea team for the next few years.” Mourinho is quoted as saying by the Express

Even if he does sign a new deal, interest in Hazard is something that Chelsea are going to have to get used to as he’s still young and is only going to get better over the coming years, so it’s only right that the likes of Madrid and PSG will be sniffing around.

Personally, I can see the Belgian remaining at Stamford Bridge for at least another 18 months before he even contemplates a move but I do think he’ll seek a switch to one of Spain’s big two eventually.