Premier League transfer news: Chelsea ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign 18-year-old wizard and more

Hello and welcome to the Premier League transfer roundup for the day! Here are the best stories surrounding the Premier League!

#5 Hazard departure imminent

This is somewhat carved in stone at this point in time. After all, Eden Hazard has openly admitted to wanting to join Real Madrid at some point in his career.

And it is perhaps for this reason that Chelsea legend Dennis Wise believes that the Belgian’s departure is imminent. In an interview, he stated that for Hazard to be considered as the best, he will have to leave Chelsea and go to clubs that are always winning trophies – like Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“He’s obviously an ambitious guy and if he wants to be a top world-class player then he probably needs to go on and win lots of different things," Wise told Express Sport.

“You’ve got Barcelona and Real Madrid - those are where top players want to end up.”

However, Wise believes that Hazard loves Chelsea and that the Blues are lucky to still have him at the club. But he also admitted that Hazard will make a decision about his future in due time.

“But at the moment it’s important that we’ve still got him at Chelsea and I think he loves the place. I’m sure in time he’ll make his decision about what’s best for him.

“At the end of the day, he’s a world-class player and has made such a difference at the start of this season.”

Finally, he opined that while the Belgium captain will be irreplaceable “when” he leaves, he hopes that the Londoners get at least two more seasons worth of service from him.

“Do you want to lose him? Of course, you don’t. He’s irreplaceable, if I’m being honest.

“One day, unfortunately, when he wants to go he will. Hopefully, we get a couple more seasons out of him - at least.”

#4 Newcastle United

It is not often when the Magpies get a full page of their own in this roundup but today is one of those days. So, according to manager Rafa Benitez, Newcastle United could be looking to make Soloman Rondon’s loan deal from West Bromwich Albion permanent.

Rondon has been in decent touch for the Magpies and the Spanish manager believes that should he continue his good form, then there could be talks between the two parties to make his deal permanent.

“I don’t know the terms of the contract or when we discuss that,” Benitez said.

“If he keeps scoring goals, Lee (Charnley, United’s managing director) will be looking at the terms of the contract and worrying about that.”

That’s not all from St. James Park as United are also being linked with a move for talented attacker Yacine Brahimi, whose contract with Porto runs out at the end of the season, report O Jogo.

#3 Samir Nasri and Loris Karius

The plan today is to use a mix-bag approach while re-reporting the transfer stories surrounding the Premier League. With that in mind, we start off with Samir Nasri to West Ham stories.

According to a report from the London Evening Standard, the Frenchman has undergone medical with the Hammers. The former Manchester City is currently serving a ban for doping and it concludes at the end of December.

The report also adds that his contract will be worth £80,000-per-week in wages.

In other news, despite not flattering the fans with his performances, Besiktas president Fikret Orman wants to sign Loris Karius permanently.

"Karius is an excellent keeper, God willing we will sign him on a permanent transfer. These stories [of terminating his loan contract] are complete nonsense. Give Karius some time is all I'm saying. Karius has a lot of work to do but give him time,” he said.

#2 North London

Now moving the focus towards North London, Arsenal may just have found out a cunning way to use Aaron Ramsey instead of just letting him go for free.

According to a report from Corriere Dello Sport Arsenal are interested in acquiring the signature of Roma forward Patrik Schick. The horrendous injury to Danny Welbeck means that the Gunners may need a backup for Aubameyang and Lacazette.

The trump card for the Londoners is that they are willing to let Ramsey go to Rome in a part-exchange deal.

Meanwhile, in the other half of the divide, the Lilywhites are also looking at a forward to be an understudy to Harry Kane. According to El Pais, via Sports Witness, the North Londoners have targeted Celta Vigo’s in-form Maxi Gomez, who has scored 6 goals and made four assists so far this season in La Liga.

#1 Chelsea

Let’s get straight to it. Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has claimed that Inter forward Mauro Icardi would become a phenomenal player under Maurizio Sarri.

The outspoken president said that he wanted to sign the Argentine but a deal didn’t happen in the end but was confident that now Chelsea manager Sarri could bring the best out of the Inter superstar.

“I offered 55-60 million, I do not remember. I met his wife, very nice. We spent an afternoon together, we negotiated a potential contract,” he said.

“Icardi is a champion, he could become a new Ronaldo, in the hands of Sarri he could make 40 goals.”

Meanwhile, that is not the only player plying his trade in Italy with whom Chelsea have been linked today. According to Don Balon, the Blues are ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign 18-year-old talented midfielder Sandro Tonali from Brescia.