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Transfer flurry to begin in three days as teams are set to reshape their squads
THERE are only three days until the Premier League transfer window opens as top flight clubs turn their attention to bolstering and reshaping their squads after playing their final league games of the season.
Football League clubs are able to make domestic signings after Championship, League One and Two sides completed their final games and now look to prepare for the next campaign.
Sportsmail will provide all the latest summer transfer window updates from Premier League, Championship clubs and rest of Europe — including deal agreements, loans and permanent signings.
Hazard dropped bombshell on Chelsea by telling them he wants to leave for Real Madrid this summer
Not much of a shock this one — it's been going on for months. But it appears Chelsea’s star man has now decided this is the year he wants to move to Real Madrid, as Maurizio Sarri confirms.
Hazard completed his seventh Premier League season as a Chelsea player and then revealed he had informed the club of his desire to leave for Real Madrid.
“I have made my decision but it is not just about me,” said Hazard after the goalless draw at Leicester. “I told the club a couple of weeks ago.
“I wanted it to be cleared up earlier but that’s not happened. I’m still waiting, like the fans are waiting.”
Chelsea will be back into the Champions League next season but Hazard said that would make no difference to the decision over his future.
At 28, he is ready for a new challenge but Real Madrid must still agree a transfer fee to free him from the final year of his contract.
“We have a final to play and then I will see,” said Hazard. “It has never been a distraction. When you are on the pitch, you try to be focused on the pitch with the ball. That’s it.
“When I am on the pitch I just try to do the best. I am not thinking about this and this, my situation or the club’s situation. I just try to win games.”
If this was a glimpse of life without Hazard then it will send a shiver through the corridors of Stamford Bridge.
He spent most of the game on the bench as Maurizio Sarri made six changes and was unable to find a winner when he came on.
Hazard saluted fans after the final whistle and they sang for him to stay but he did not linger.
“Eden has tried his best for seven seasons at Chelsea,” said Sarri. “He has become one of the best two or three players in the world but I think also that we have to respect him and his decision.
“I hope of course, like every fan of Chelsea, that he will remain with us. But at the moment I don’t know.”
It’s a busy start for Chelsea, and as they have a transfer ban that can only mean outgoings...
Rangers aim to land RM2.4 million rated Oldham star Edmundson
Rangers are reflecting on a season of missing out on the Scottish Premiership title to Celtic and are looking to rebuild ahead of a stronger challenge next term. Oldham’s highly rated defender George Edmundson fits the bill for Steven Gerrard, but his side face a battle to land the 21-yearold who has already made 79 appearances for the League Two club and is keen to play at a higher level.
Oldham have already rejected offers for Edmundson and are aware of interest from the likes of Stoke City, Sunderland, Hull City, Preston and Fleetwood Town.
However, the Scottish Premier League giants are monitoring the situation with a view to taking the Manchester-born centre-half to Ibrox.
Edmundson has undergone the same footballing education as Burnley and England defender James Tarkowski, who also came through the ranks at Boundary Park. Oldham, who ended the year 14th in League Two — their lowest finish since 1970 — are understood to value their prized asset at around £450,000 9RM2.4 million).
Nice register interest in signing Giroud from Chelsea
Got to feel a little sorry for Olivier Giroud. He’s been no worse than Gonzalo Higuain at Chelsea, yet still can’t get regular game time. However, he may have an exit route this summer with Patrick Vieira’s Nice showing interest.
Giroud was expected to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer at the end of the season before Maurizio Sarri confirmed the club would trigger a one-year extension in his contract last month.
The Frenchman has featured only intermittently for the Blues this season, with Higuain becoming Sarri’s undisputed first choice up front in the league following his January arrival.
And it appears Patrick Vieira’s Nice are keen to take advantage of his unsettled status by luring the France World Cup winner back to Ligue 1.
Speaking to Canal Football, former Arsenal player and Nice’s technical director Giles Grimandi confirmed the club have discussed signing Giroud this summer.
“If Olivier Giroud decides to come that is because he likes the project at OGC Nice,” said Grimanid. “If Olivier is not happy at Chelsea, if he wants to play, we will take all the elements into account.
“I have spoken with Patrick [Vieira] about Olivier Giroud, but we have not spoken with Olivier Giroud.”
Grimandi added: “Olivier I know him very well. Very well because I was involved in his transfer from Montpellier to Arsenal. Olivier will choose his destination.
“For the moment I have not spoken to him. If Olivier Giroud decides to come to OGC Nice it is because he knows the means that we have.”
Giroud has expressed a willingness to step down a level and potentially return to France in order to play more football.
Speaking on French radio in March, Giroud told RTL: “Of course it is frustrating. I feel like there is no competition since January.
“It is like that, I know that I will only play in the Europa League and I will try to do everything I can to be as effective and decisive as possible for the team.
“The future could be lively this summer. I am not scared of going down a level to have more playing time. It could be that I end my career in France.”
Atletico Madrid resigned to losing Griezmann to Barcelona
Just one year after turning down Barcelona to pledge his future to Atletico Madrid, it appears Antoine Griezmann’s move to the Nou Camp could be back on.
Given the way Barca tumbled out the Champions League, they are a little bit more desperate to boost their squad this summer.
Atletico now “believe that Antoine Griezmann will go and join Barcelona this summer” with his future once again a topic of debate.
A meeting between the player, his representatives and the club is due later this week to discuss his future heading into the summer transfer window.
The club are believed to be tired with constant speculation over the future of the Frenchman and the report reveals they want an answer face-to-face whether he will stay or go.
From July 1, Griezmann’s contract sees a €120 million (RM562m) release clause and that would represent an affordable fee for Barcelona having paid more for Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho.
Manager Diego Simeone was less than enthused to discuss the future of Griezmann before last week’s draw with Sevilla.
“Since the subject of Griezmann going to Barcelona started to pop up in the media, I always said that I think he’s okay, he’s cool and happy with his teammates,” Simeone said on Saturday. “He’s our captain and whatever happens from now on doesn’t depend on us.”