In Brief

Chelsea transfer news: Wilfried Zaha, Hirving Lozano, Lorenzo Insigne, Elseid Hysaj

Who could replace Eden Hazard if he leaves for Real Madrid?

by The Week team

7 Dec 2018

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha in action against Chelsea in the Premier League

Dan Istitene/Getty Images

Chelsea ace Eden Hazard has reportedly agreed terms with Real Madrid for next season – so who could replace the Belgian if he leaves Stamford Bridge?

Premier League transfer news: Eden Hazard, Mateo Kovacic, Cengiz Under

Radio broadcaster talkSPORT has produced a list of possible signings and one player mentioned is Wilfried Zaha.

Crystal Palace star Zaha has Hazard’s pace and skill, although question marks remain about his temperament at the highest level, given his short and unsuccessful stint at Manchester United.

Gareth Bale also gets a mention, as the Real Madrid forward invariably does these days on the rumour circuit, but would the 30-year-old Welshman represent the future for Blues manager Maurizio Sarri?

Sarri eyeing up Insigne?

TalkSPORT believes it is more likely the Chelsea gaffer will make a move for either 23-year-old Hirving Lozano of PSV Eindhoven, the Mexican who impressed during last summer’s World Cup, or Lorenzo Insigne.

The 27-year-old Napoli ace has already played under Sarri and talkSPORT believes it would “be no surprise to see the talented Italian move to Stamford Bridge in the immediate future”, particularly as he’s friends with Jorginho, who made the journey from Naples to Stamford Bridge in July.

Nightmare for Napoli

Worryingly for the Italian club, The Sun reports that Insigne might not be the only Napoli player on Sarri’s wishlist.

The paper claims that Chelsea are looking to “raid” the Serie A outfit in January in the hope of signing right-back Elseid Hysaj.

The Sun name-checks Italian outlet Calciomercato in claiming the two clubs are “in talks” over the possibility of a deal for the Albanian international. Apparently the Blues have opened negotiations with Napoli and it’s reported that they are ready to meet Hysaj’s £44.5m release clause.

Anything is possible

Like Insigne, Hysaj played under Sarri when he was in charge at Napoli, and the player would be happy to renew the acquaintance.

Asked by broadcaster Radio Marte for a reaction to the rumours linking Hysaj to Stamford Bridge, his agent Mario Giuffredi replied: “The player could go away. It is not said that he stays in Naples, everything can happen, even if he goes away in January.”