Football Transfer Update| Pato, Hazard, Kane, Diego Simone … FOOTBALL CHAOS !!!

Real Madrid are planning to spend £250m in January after they were given a transfer ban, with £80m-rated Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, 25, their top target. The Belgium international is joined on the list by Manchester United keeper David de Gea, 25, Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 22, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, 27, and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero, 27. (Sun) 

Tottenham’s England striker Harry Kane, 22, and Everton centre-back John Stones, 21, are also targets for Real Madrid. (Daily Star) 

The lead story on Friday’s back page of the Sun is Real Madrid’s £250m January spending spree

But despite Real’s intentions to spend big, the transfer ban will mean De Gea and Hazard stay at Manchester United and Chelsea respectively. (Independent)  

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri wants to sign West Bromwich Albion’s England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino. (Daily Mirror) 

However, Albion say the 22-year-old is not for sale and have warned Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United not to make any bids. (Telegraph) 

Chelsea are close to signing Brazil striker Alexandre Pato, 26, from Corinthians. (ESPN Brazil – in Portuguese) 

But the Blues will have to match Corinthians’ £10m valuation of the Brazilian to enhance their striking options.(Telegraph) 

And Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink has been told he must sell France striker Loic Remy, 29, before he can bring in Pato. (Daily Star) 

Chelsea believe their chances of recruiting top managerial target Diego Simeone, 45, have improved after the Argentine’s current club Atletico Madrid were given a transfer ban. (Daily Mirror) 

West Ham United are hoping to beat Everton to a deal for Leeds’ 22-year-old English right-back Sam Byram. (Daily Express) 

Newcastle are ready to make a £12m bid for Tottenham’s England winger Andros Townsend, 24. (Sun) 

Marseille are close to re-signing Florian Thauvin, Newcastle United’s unsettled France winger, 22, on loan for the rest of the season. (Times – subscription required) 

Liverpool and Tottenham are monitoring winger Yasin ben el-Mhanni, 20, who has impressed this season for Ryman Premier League side Lewes and has just started a trial at Crystal Palace.(Daily Mail) 

Manchester United are set to make their first signing of the transfer window in Italian centre-back Luca Ercolani, 16, from Serie D side Forli.(Daily Express) 

Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, 19, could sign another new deal at Spurs at the end of the season as the club pursue a contract renewal policy to reward and retain their best players. (Times – subscription only)  

Every window at Old Trafford is being covered in anti-shatter film to protect players and fans from a terror attack. (Daily Star) 

United are facing more turmoil among their backroom staff with the impending departure of the club’s academy chief. Derek Langley is planning to leave the club at the end of the season because of disillusionment about the state of the academy.