Lille admit Hazard defeat
French giants Lille OSC have admitted defeat in their quest to keep Eden Hazard at the club and are resigned to losing him at the end of the season. Hazard, 21, is hailed as one of Europe’s brightest young stars and is on the wishlist of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid, amongst others.
Lille director Frederic Paquet told Orange Sport ” Eden will leave at the end of the season, that is almost a certainty”
Hazard was recently linked with a switch to Lille’s domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain. The Belgian international has also indicated his willingness to move north to England if the correct opportunity come knocking.
Shanghai Shenhua confident of landing Anelka in January
Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua are said to be quietly confident of landing wantaway Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka next month. The former Paris St Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fenerbahce striker will be made an £6m offer over the course of three years to leave Europe. Anelka recently had a transfer request accepted by Chelsea and is no longer involved with the first squad at Stamford Bridge.
Many European clubs are keen to give Anelka a shot, none more so prominent than West Ham, whose manager Sam Allarydce is hoping to land him on loan in January to give their promotion chances a boost.
Shanghai are currently managed by former French great Jean Tigana.
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Pienaar looks set for Chelsea move
Chelsea have stolen a march on rivals Tottenham in the race to sign Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar. The South African midfielder whose contract runs out in the summer, has been the subject of interest from a lot of clubs in Europe. Everton are willing to sell him in the January window rather than letting him go on a free at the end of the season.
David Moyes has said that the club has accepted two bids for Pienaar in the region of around £3 million. Carlo Ancellotti is desperate to sign the dynamic midfielder in order to arrest the slump that might see his side slip out of the top four.
Pienaar joined Everton from Borussia Dortmund in 2007 for £2 million. He has been exceptional for the Toffees and even won the player of the year award last season at Goodison Park. He indicated his desire to leave the Merseyside club when he rejected their offer of a new contract six months ago.
Moyes is hoping to use the funds from the Pienaar sale for purchasing new players in the market. Many players set to exit Goodison as well. Nigerian forward Yakubu became the first player to leave when he joined Championship side Leicester City on loan till the end of the season.
Tottenham have shifted their focus onto FC Twente striker Bryan Ruiz who has set the Eredivisie on fire with his goals.
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Fiorentina Sign Defenders
Fiorentina have completed the signings of Juan Manuel Vargas and Gianluca Comotto. The defenders were brought in to aid the teams challenge to qualify for the Champions League group stage. Vargas was reportedly interesting some of the bigger teams in Europe such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. He was happy however to sign for Fiorentina and have a first team place guaranteed. Gianluca Comotto will return to the Viola after already having spent a disappointing 6 month spell on loan earlier in his career. He said “Now i want o show Fiorentina supporters who is the real Comotto”.