LaLiga transfer news: Chelsea legend suggests Eden Hazard to force a move to Real Madrid and more - January 23, 2019

Hello and welcome to La Liga latest transfer news and rumours of the day! Here are the top stories of the day surrounding the Spanish league.

#3 Guillem Balague on Barcelona

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has revealed that the rumours linking Malcom out of Barcelona have been created due to the fact that the Blaugrana want to sell the player.

The Brazilian had the interest of Spurs in the summer but now, according to Balague, the Lilywhites don’t have the money to sign him – or anyone for that matter – and that Barcelona need some money in order to pay €10 million in agent fees for Rabiot.

"We know that Spurs are putting the money somewhere else, they don't have money to sign anybody now," he said.

"Malcom was of interest in the summer but now not.

"The stories come from the fact Barcelona need to sell players to finance [Adrien] Rabiot coming in, not so much for the transfer fee but because it will be about €10m to his mother, who is his agent.”

He also added that the wages of Rabiot could also be on the high end, which means that the Catalans would need to make as much money as possible from sales.

"If they wanted to do it now, which is not going to happen because that would be money to PSG. Of course, his contract runs out at the end of the season.

"It's in terms of wages that they are going to have to try and convince Rabiot, that's still money."

And that money, according to Balague, should come from the sales of either Denis Suarez or Malcom.

"That money has to come from the sales of Denis Suarez or Malcom. Malcom arrived for €40m and hasn't made an impact whatsoever," he added.

#2 Emery still hopes

Emery gives an update

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has revealed his stance in the January transfer market. The Gunners, as mentioned earlier, had been linked with Denis Suarez but there were concerns that a deal might not happen now since the Londoners aren’t really too keen to have an obligatory buy-out clause for the summer.

However, according to Emery himself, there might still be hope. The former Sevilla manager stated that the club would like to sign a couple of players to enhance the performance and that the board are working hard to sign the players that he has targeted for Arsenal.

“We only want to sign one or two players who can really help us with good performances,” Emery was quoted as saying. “The club is working. They know our intentions, our possibilities for signing players that can help us.”

Watch out for this space, then!

#1 Ballack’s advice

Should Hazard listen to him?

Chelsea legend Michael Ballack has asked Eden Hazard to force a move to a top club should he really want to play for one. Only recently, Hazard claimed that he would like to play for Real Madrid someday and Ballack thinks that Hazard is too ‘calm’ at Chelsea.

The legendary former midfielder not only praised the Belgian for being a great player but also suggested that he should try and enforce his desire on the Blues.

“Eden Hazard has to decide if he wants to stay or not,” Ballack said. “He’s not only an outstanding player at Chelsea but also in the Premier League. Now he has to decide if he wants to play at an ultimate top club.

“That’s what he’s already communicated from time to time. In my opinion, he is a little bit too calm, especially at Chelsea. There should be more demanding and expressing of his wishes.”