Real Madrid aim to beat Arsenal to Eden Hazard

IF TALKSPORT is to be believed, Real Madrid are pulling out all the stops to sign Eden Hazard from Lille, even going so far as to enlist the help of Zinedine Zidane. The headbutting French legend is a director of Real and, according to Talksport, is "hell-bent on scuppering Arsenal and Liverpool", both of whom are also chasing the 20-year-old playmaker.

Earlier this week Hazard's Lille team-mate Joe Cole described Hazard as "the best young player I have ever seen at such an age" and that's a sentiment long shared by Arsenal and Liverpool, neither of whom are deterred by Lille's valuation of him at £20m-plus.

But the intervention of Zidane will alarm both Premier League clubs, seeing as the wily Frenchman pulled off a similar stunt earlier this year concerning Raphael Varane. The French defender had seemed set to join Manchester United from Lens, but then Zindane had a word in his ear and, hey presto, Varane signed up at the Bernabeu.

Talksport speculates that Real are more likely to make their move for Hazard next summer, which could prompt Arsenal or Liverpool to get in quick the moment the January transfer window opens.

Several Italian papers report that Manchester United are vying with Juventus for the services of Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Mateo Kovacic now that Arsenal have decided the 17-year-old is not for them.

The teenager dubbed the 'Croatian Lionel Messi' has been bigged up by his agent in recent weeks with rumours of a move to the Emirates or Old Trafford. But according to latest despatches Juventus are in talks with Dinamo and the Italian club's general manager Beppe Marotta is keen to seal a deal in the New Year.

Apparently United's pursuit of Kovacic has been hampered by UK work permit laws, red tape that doesn't apply in the more liberated Serie A league.

Still in Italy and Itasportpress claims that Tottenham are planning a swoop for Genoa striker Rodrigo Palacio. The 29-year-old Argentine frontman has been linked with a move away from Serie A for a while now and apparently Spurs boss Harry Redknapp believes Palacio would enhance his striking options.

Spurs scout Ian Broomfield will make his final assessment on Palacio in the coming weeks with Redknapp expected to sign the South American (capped eight times by Argentina) in January.

Frank Lampard has told the Evening Standard that he intends to see out his career with Chelsea despite the fact he spends most of his days as a substitute.

The England midfielder came off the bench on Wednesday to score for the Blues in their 1-1 draw with Valencia in the Champions League and Lampard dismissed speculation that he could ever "do a Tevez" if he continues to loiter on the bench. "Storm off? I won't do that," promised Lampard, adding: "Of course I still want to end my career at Chelsea and I don't want it to end soon."

And as for Carlos Tevez himself, the Sun claims that West Ham have offered to take the bench bum off Manchester City's hands following his alleged refusal to play a part in the Sky Blues' midweek clash with Bayern Munich.

Apparently the Hammers have told City they'd be prepared to take the Argentine striker on loan – and pay a considerable chunk of his £250,000-a-week wages – for three months, handing him back in January when City will look to sell Tevez.

The Sun says City aren't keen on the idea but Tevez might jump at the chance to get away from Manchester for a while, particularly as he spent the 2006-07 season playing for West Ham. ·