Paper Round: Zinedine Zidane wants Chelsea's Eden Hazard at Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane is set to make a play for Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, that's the big line from Thursday's papers. According to reports, Zidane is set to hold transfer talks with club President Florentino Perez this week.

Paper Round's view: Real Madrid have had a less than perfect start to the season and clearly Hazard would be a great acquisition for any team. These rumours seem to be pretty persistent, though Hazard would have considerably more competition for a starting spot with Los Blancos.

[Read the full story here]

Chelsea have entered the fray surrounding France forward Thomas Lemar, 22, who has also been the subject of interest for a number of Premier League clubs. The title holders could pay up to £80 million for the international. Thursday's reports suggest Michy Batshuayi could be used as part of a deal to secure Lemar.

Paper Round's view: Chelsea had a dire transfer season and will be keen to find some new blood in the January transfer window, though Arsene Wenger will doubtless be disappointed if the Blues are to succeed where he failed to sign the Frenchman for Arsenal. Batshuayi has been the subject of a number of rumours regarding his relationship with Conte.

[Read the full story here]

According to a report by The Mirror, the Gunners are looking to fill a hole if Hector Bellerin returns to his home country as rumours suggest. Wenger will look to sign Udinese defender Silvan Widmer, who has been with the club for four years and has played for Switzerland at junior level.

Paper Round's view: The Udinese right-back, Widmer, is a potential replacement for Bellerin. He has been versatile at the Serie A club playing in both the right-back and right wing-back role.

[Read the full story here]

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is set for a January transfer spending spree, so say reports on Thursday. According to a report by the Daily Star, Rafa is due £20m as the club heads for a takeover by Amanda Staveley, which will be duly spent securing deals for Liverpool striker Danny Ings, 25, and Manchester United defender Luke Shaw, 22.

Paper Round's view: Currently languishing somewhere near the bottom of the table, Benitez has expressed his frustration over his lack of certainty around budgets and will be keen to look for reinforcements. According to Thursday's reports, Benitez hopes to secure the pair on loan, though he may have a job persuading Shaw to take such a step down and will have competition for Ings, by way of West Brom.

[Read the full story here]

Like Real Madrid? Get more news at www.madridistanews.com