Real Madrid are sensationally set to offer Chelsea the services of Welsh international winger Gareth Bale as part of a swap deal for long-time target Eden Hazard.
That’s according to media reports in the UK and Spain today, which largely seem to originate from Spanish publication Don Balon, who claim that Los Blancos are growing ‘desperate’ in their attempts to prise Belgian international Hazard away from Stamford Bridge.
The paper reports that Real coach Zinedine Zidane “would willingly accept an exchange” involving out-of-favour Bale to land the Belgian. The former’s constant struggle with injuries have limited him to just six La Liga appearances so far this term and thrown his future at the Santiago Bernabeu into doubt as Zidane and club president Florentino Perez both reportedly doubt his ability to return to the form that saw him signed for €100 million back in 2013.
Man United still a realistic destination for Bale
Of course, Manchester United have also been linked with the former Spurs star, as far back as last summer, and are still believed to be in the running to bring the 28-year-old back to the Premier League at the end of the season – with Jose Mourinho making no secret of his desire to sign the former most expensive footballer in the world despite claiming it would be close to “mission impossible”.
However, today’s reports now claim that the Spanish giants believe Bale plus cash could provide the leverage they need to bring Belgian international Hazard to the Bernabeu, and Chelsea should, therefore, be considered favourites ahead of both Man United and Tottenham – the latter of whom have also been linked with a move for their former charge – in the running to sign the 68-times-capped international. Either way, it seems likely both Bale and Hazard will have at least until the summer to decide on where their respective futures lay.
Header image by football.ua [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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