Roman Abramovich has spoken optimistically about the chances that Eden Hazard will return to his club. According to outlet El Nacional, the Belgian winger will try to rejoin Chelsea by the start of next season.

There are high hopes of the deal going through with Abramovich ‘increasingly convinced’ of the star’s return to Stamford Bridge.

Hazard left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 for a price of around €100 million with plans of becoming the new Ronaldo figure at the club. Injuries and what seems to be a lack of motivation have really hampered his chances at the club.

In his first two seasons at the club, he could not manage more than 15 starts in the league, only getting 4 goals and five assists in total. This year has not started much better with him picking up a muscle injury on international duty.

Even if he is not sold for much, the club will want him off their wage bill. Hazard’s highly lucrative deal will last for another two years so it is best that they sell him now.

"When I am finished here in Madrid, I will come back to Chelsea. They are doing well, they are young.

I do my job here and I return."

– Eden Hazard in 2019 pic.twitter.com/DXDZfID7H9

— Sporting Index (@sportingindex) October 11, 2021

How would the deal work out?

If the deal happened, Madrid will want Chelsea to part with a reported €40 million. This would be a €60 million profit for the Blues but is it still worth their money.

There is another option on the cards for the London club. Rumors have circulated that Real Madrid would be interested in a swap deal where right-back Reece James would move to Spain.

This option would help the Galacticos with their defensive options. Their main starter Dani Carvajal has been hit with spells of injuries in recent years. James would be a great steal for the club if he can get over the language barrier.

Although the move is unlikely, it is of much interest and debate amongst the Chelsea fans.

Eden Hazard in his prime was just unplayable pic.twitter.com/ANv0Hh9Ius

— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) October 12, 2021

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The Gunners have the highest net spend of any Premier League club this summer after Deadline Day.

Although the club has continued their bad form by losing their first three league games without scoring, Mikel Arteta will hope that some of these new players can turn their season around.

6. Nuno Tavares – €8 million

This was Arsenal’s first signing of the summer back in early July and it left most fans bewildered. The 21-year-old signed for a relatively small fee from Benfica and he has gone on to make two appearances in the league already.

Last season he only managed seven starts in the Portuguese league, providing no goal contributions. Arteta has clearly seen something he likes in the player but for now, he seems like more of a backup for Scotsman Kieren Tierney.

5. Ben White – €69 million

Arteta fiercely fought for the signing of White from Brighton & Hove Albion but after his first few games, it seems more like a panic buy. Arsenal have shown trouble at the back and going by his only game so far, the 23-year-old will not be the one to fix it.

It is clear that White has many years ahead of him and will probably play most of the remainder of Arsenal’s season but the main problem is the ludicrous price.

After a good season in the Championship and an alright one in the Premier League, Brighton managed to sell the player for twice what he is actually worth.

4. Aaron Ramsdale – €28 million

This was the transfer that Arteta hunted down the most in the transfer window. Ramsdale is still a young goalkeeper at the age of 23 but has already been a part of two relegated Premier League teams.

Although he was part of the Gunners win of the season – a thrashing of a West Brom reserve team in the EFL Cup – he does not seem worth his price tag.

Arsenal always had a decent keeper in Bernd Leno and it just seems that Ramsdale is costing more due to being English.

Aaron Ramsdale for Arsenal:

– 2 clean sheets
– 0 goals conceded
– 10 goals for
– 1 fan favourite already pic.twitter.com/fdFiQXOc0y

— Av (@aviv_lavi) September 2, 2021

3. Albert Sambi Lokonga – €18 million

This signing has shown a slight bit of merit, Lokonga may have been in two of Arsenal’s opening losses but has shown to be a strong replacement for Granit Xhaka.

The 21-year-old started 27 times for Anderlecht last season and made five-goal contributions from a mainly defensive midfielder role.

The Belgian has also been praised by Premier League legend Vincent Kompany during his time in Anderlecht.

Sambi Lokonga has been the best player in last 3 games. Its a shame Arteta will bench him when Thomas Partey is back and employ Granit Xhaka. pic.twitter.com/MOfR8qeSJs

— SAMBi (@Sambilokonga48) August 31, 2021

2. Takehiro Tomiyasu – €20 million

Here is another quality signing for a reasonable price. Tomiyasu signed from Italian midtable side Bologna on Deadline Day. He managed 31 starts for the club last year and three Olympic Games matches playing in every position in the backline.

What makes the deal sweeter is that they stole it from under the noses of their bitter rivals Tottenham at the last minute.

1. Martin Odegaard – €40 million

This is the biggest name / highest quality player that the Gunners managed to sign. Odegaard spent last season on loan at the club and Arteta loved every minute that the Norweigan spent on the field.

Signing from Real Madrid makes his price of €40 million more understandable. The main plus is that he has a lot of experience at the highest level for someone that is still only 22.

Arsenal's biggest ever transfer window outlay – around £145m.

– Ramsdale (£24m)
– Lokonga (£15m)
– White (£50m)
– Odegaard (£30m)
– Tavares (£8m)
– Tomiyasu (£16m)

Impossible to really rate it now. It could be two years until we know if most of them are decent signings or not. pic.twitter.com/QRSnke9kZw

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) August 31, 2021

Only time will tell if any of these signings prove their worth and can pull Arsenal from the terrible rut they are in.

The post Ranking all of the Arsenal 2021 Summer signings appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

With the recent signing of Jadon Sancho to Manchester United after a lengthy transfer saga lasting more than 16 months, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has finally got the winger his side has needed.

Since United appointed Solskjaer in 2018, he has made some inspired arrivals that have cost a fortune.

Sancho’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund has increased the overall expenditure of the most lucrative signings in Premier League history.

As it stands Manchester United have the most signings in the top ten, with five.

Chelsea is in second with two big-name signings, both of which were made in the past 3 years.

Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City all make up the rest of the top ten with one signing a piece.

Making the overall expenditure of the ten most expensive signings in Premier League history reach £740 million.

But who makes up the current top ten? Who has cost the most in English top-flight history with Sancho now making the list?

10. Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid to Manchester United in 2014) – £67 million

The Argentinian winger was coming off a sensational 2013/2014 season for Los Blancos, contributing to 36 goals in 53 appearances.

He made the world take notice of his talent in the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid, putting in a man of the match performance which saw him lift his first Champions League title.

Louis Van Gaal signed the winger in the summer of that season, and he immediately hit the ground running.

Contributing to 7 goals in 10 games, and scoring a wonder goal against Leicester.

After injuries, he never seemed to adapt to the league itself and immediately left for PSG after one season. Only making 27 appearances for United.

9. Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg to Manchester City in 2015) – £68 million

After leaving Chelsea under manager Jose Mourinho, De Bruyne left for German outfit Wolfsburg at the age of 24.

His best season is the 2014/2015 one, scoring 16 goals and assisting 28 in 51 games made Man City jump at the chance to bring him back to England.

Since his arrival, he has become the best midfielder in world football. Winning 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup and 5 League Cups.

Along with these trophies, he has been named as Manchester City’s Player of the Season (3 times), FIFA FIFPro World 11 (1 time), UEFA Team of the Year (3 times), ESM Team of the Year (3 times), PFA Premier League Team of the Year (3 times), Premier League Playmaker of the Season (2 times), Premier League Player of the season in 2019/2020 as well as picking up the PFA Players’ Player of the Year (2 times).

Making him on the most expensive midfield signings in Premier League history, bit one worth the price tag.

8. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018) – £72 million

In the summer of 2018, Chelsea lost goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in the final few days of the transfer window.

August 18th, saw Chelsea sign the young keeper for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, beating out Liverpool’s then world-record fee for Alisson.

Signing the 24-year-old keeper for £72 million who was an unknown and on a 7-year contract was risky for the London club.

His first season was a mixed one. Performance-wise he performed adequately, keeping 23 clean sheets and making some good saves.

Winning the Europa League, but causing controversy in the League Cup Final against Manchester City. Refusing to be substituted by then manager Maurizio Sarri before a penalty-shoot out.

He suffered to gain form during his second season under Frank Lampard and was dropped for the remainder of the season.

Now playing second fiddle to Édouard Mendy, he has been rumoured to be leaving Chelsea, with a return back to Spain the most likely destination.

7. Nicolas Pépé (LOSC Lille to Arsenal in 2019) – £72 million

Under Unai Emery, Arsenal was looking for a marquee signing. Having failed with a summer-long attempt to lure Wilfred Zaha to the Emirates. They turned their attention to France.

Winger Nicolas Pépé arrived in London in the summer of 2019, with massive hype. Contributing to 35 goals in 41 assists in his final season with Lille.

His first season with Arsenal was respectable, with 18 goals and assists in 42 games, and winning the FA Cup.

Coming under criticism for his performances since his arrival, with some lacklustre games making fans and pundits call him ”overrated”

However, he fared slightly better statistically in his second season, getting 21 goals and assists in 47 games, impressing towards the end of the season.

6. Kai Havertz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Chelsea in 2020) – £72 million

Chelsea’s incredible transfer haul in the 2020 summer transfer window saw the London club spend up to £225 million on 5 high calibre players.

With German ”generational talent” Kai Havertz topping off a great window.

The 21-year-old midfielder took time to adapt under Frank Lampard, after a solid performance away to Burnley, he tested positive for Coronavirus and suffered from ”long Covid” for many months.

Contributing to 18 goals all season, playing very well towards the end of last season under Thomas Tuchel, playing as a false 9.

Scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final and putting in a star performance.

5. Virgil Van Dijk (Southampton to Liverpool in 2018) – £75 million

Liverpool made a statement of intent in the January transfer window, signing centre-back Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton.

Becoming one of the most expensive defensive signings in Premier League history.

The previous transfer window saw Liverpool having to end their interest after reportedly ”tapping up” the player.

They ultimately signed him for a then world-record fee and has become the best centre-back in world football.

Winning the Champions League and Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years while putting in colossus performances.

Missing the whole of last season through injury saw Liverpool fall off massively. He will return for the upcoming season with Ibrahima Konate by his side.

4. Romelu Lukaku (Everton to Manchester United in 2017) – £75 million

Then Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho made a statement with the signing of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

Beating Chelsea to his signature in the summer of 2017 was a big coup for the club and in his first season, he contributed to 36 goals in 51 appearances.

In the 2018/2019 season, his numbers and performances dwindled under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, being played out of position ultimately saw him depart to Italy.

Inter Milan under Antonio Conte transformed Lukaku’s game, notching up 80 goal contributions in 95 games. Winning his first league title in the process.

3. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in 2021) – £76 million

One of the most drawn-out transfer saga’s of recent history has seen Manchester United fill in the gap they have needed to fill for many years.

Capturing one of the world’s most talented young players will make them title challengers going forward.

Leaving Manchester City under Pep Guardiola for more game time saw him leave for German outfit Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

Notching up 121 goal contributions in 146 games, all in the space of 4 years is remarkable for a 21-year-old.

His arrival in England will be one to look out for, being touted as the next Man United number 7 will be a daunting task, but given his talent and age, he will go on to do big things.

2. Harry Maguire (Leicester City to Manchester United in 2019) – £80 million

The much-maligned English centre-back has come under criticism for his performances since his world-record fee for a defender in the summer of 2019.

Solidly performing for Leicester, saw United gain interest, finally agreeing to their wanted £80 million fees after months of talks.

A standout for England during their European Championship campaign, the United captain is now highly respected as a competent defender.

1. Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United in 2016) – £90 million

The French midfielder left Man United under Sir Alex Ferguson as a youth team player, making his name in Serie A with Juventus made him one of the best midfielders in the world at the age of 23.

United pounced at the opportunity to re-sign the midfielder with a record £90 million in fees in the summer of 2016.

Never fully performing the best to his ability in a United shirt.

Pogba has been a figure of ridicule for many outside influences, with his dancing, ghosting of games and use of social media has made him a controversial figure.

His international performances have seen him win a World Cup in 2018 and he is now reported to be leaving Manchester United after rejecting to sign a new deal.

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Villa tabled their first bid last week worth around £25m, have come back with an improved offer for the young star.

A £30 million bid worth has been reported after an opening offer was rejected by the London club.

The Gunners are hoping to extend Smith Rowe’s current Arsenal contract which is set to expire in the summer of 2023.

The Midlands side has already spent big this summer. Signing Norwich winger Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City worth up to £35 million pounds. Who Arsenal was also in the market for.

Arsenal have rejected a second bid from Aston Villa for Emile Smith Rowe, believed to be in the region of £30m.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 28, 2021

Dean Smith will be hoping to capture the Englishman this summer to strengthen his midfield options going forward with the potential departure of captain Jack Grealish.

With Manchester City set to test the waters for Grealish, they are heavily rumoured to start negotiations after EURO 2020 with an opening bid of £100 million pounds on the table.

Smith-Rowe has broken into Mike Arteta’s side after numerous loan spells with Huddersfield and RB Leipzig and impressing with the Arsenal U18’s and Arsenal U23’s have made him a main starter in the midfield.

The 20-year-old England youth international has come into his own this season, with impressive displays at the latter end of last season. Contributing to 14 goals in 37 games across all competitions.

The relationship between Arsenal and Villa have been positive in recent years, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez leaving for the midlands last season for £16 million.

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