Eden Hazard: West Ham fans wrong about Real Madrid chants

Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard scored a brace against West Ham as the Maurizio Sarri side earned the maximum points they needed to move back into the top four.

Whereas Chelsea earned the bragging rights on the night on the field of play, it was the chants of  "he's off to Madrid" from West Ham fans that elicited post match questions to the Belgian captain, 

However, he sought to play down the chants from the West Ham fans, whose chants were aimed at their host. Claiming his focus is firmly on helping Chelsea to finish in the top four and to win the Europa League.

Speaking after the match, 

They're wrong," Hazard told the match host broadcaster.

"Now I'm just focused on Chelsea until the end of season. I want to finish in the top four and do well in the Europa League, and then we'll see."

The 28 year old has just one year left on his contract, and he has continually been linked with a move to Real Madrid. And he has so far not shown any indication of extending his stay at Stamford Bridge beyond 2020, which opens the door for a potential sale in the summer.

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odio hands in transfer request

Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odio has handed in a transfer request as he seeks to push through a move out of Stamford Bridge in the midst of strong interest from Bayern Munich who are the subject of £40m bid.

The Bavarians have publicly indicated their interest in the 18 year old Chelsea academy graduate.

The Chelsea hierarchy are keen to keep hold of him, and have reportedly offered a contract worth in the region of £80,000 a week, but a lack of a guaranteed playing time has become a sticking point.

He has made 14 appearances, five of which were starts this season.

With the signing of 20 year old winger Christian Pulisic for £58m from Borussia Dortmund, a player that features in a similar position, his path to first team football would further be blocked when the United States international joins in the club next season.

With 18 months left in his contract, Chelsea are in a much weaker position in any negotiation.

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata passes Atletico medical

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is set to sign an 18 months loan deal with Atletico Madrid after he passed his medical.

The 26 year old told Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri a month ago that he wanted to leave. He has failed to settle at Stamford Bridge and has struggled for form, scoring just 16 league goals in 47 Premier League appearances.

Speaking about his move in Spain, the former Real Madrid and Juventus striker hinted that he was already looking ahead to life outside London.

"The past is the past, and it cannot be changed, and I'm very proud of it,"  

"I am looking forward to everything being completed so I can start training with my team-mates. 

"I began my career at Atletico and the people who know where I come from and know my history know what this means for me."

The Spanish international was signed from Real Madrid for £60m in 2017. After hitting the ground running with a flurry of goals in his first three months in England, he suffered a dip in form after a hamstring injury and has subsequently suffered from a crisis of confidence.

Following the signing of Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus last week, it was widely expected that he would leave West London to Madrid.

Arsenal v Man Utd teams: Ozil on the bench, Alexis starts

Arsenal are in action tonight against Man Utd in the 4th round of the FA Cup at the Emirates.

The main team news is that Mesut Ozil is on the bench. Cech returns in goal and Alex Iwobi starts for Arsenal. While, there are starts for Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku for Man United.

Full teams;

Arsenal: 

Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Iwobi, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Substitutes: Leno, Mustafi, Monreal, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Guendouzi, Ozil

Manchester United: 

Romero, Young, Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw, Herrera, Matci, Pogba, Lindgard, Lukaku, Alexis

Substitutes: Grant, Dalot, Jones, Fred, Mata, Martial, Rashford

Thierry Henry dismissed as Monaco manager

Thierry Henry has been dismissed from his job as Monaco manager after just three months of being in charge. 

The 41 year old had just two wins from 12 league matches, leaving the club deep in relegation trouble. They were eliminated from the French Cup by Ligue 2 side Metz this week.

In all, he managed five wins from 20 matches. And his time at the club were littered with rows with senior players.

Former manager Leonardo Jardim is the favourite to replace him.

Thierry Henry formed his reputation as a lethal forward during his eight year spell at Arsenal where he became the club's leading goalscorer.

He had worked as a pundit and lately as assistant manager to Belgium national team.

Victor Moses joins Fenerbahce from Chelsea

Former Nigeria international and Chelsea winger Victor Moses passed his medical in Istanbul ahead of a proposed loan move to Turkish giant Fenerbahce who are currently languishing in the relegation zone.

Victor Moses has been a virtual outcast under Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri. Featuring just five times, with just one start which was in the EFL Cup.

This is his seventh year at Stamford Bridge, but the fourth time he would be going out on loan after previous loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham.

Since his move from Wigan to Chelsea in 2012, he has featured 128 times for the blues scoring 18 goals.

The 28 year old called time on his international career after the World Cup in Russia to concentrate on his club football. 

Instead, it has been a nightmare first half of the season at club level. Apart for some fleeting appearances, he has been left out completely from the squad all season. 

Chelsea confirm signing of Higuain

Chelsea have signed Juventus striker  Gonzalo Higuain on loan for the rest of the season. The 31 year cut short his loan spell at the San Siro with AC Milan to move to England.

He scored just six goals in 15 appearances for Milan, the last of which was over a month ago.

Chelsea have an option of extending the loan spell to the entirety of the 2019/2020 season if they pay a fee of €18m according to a statement by Juventus. 

There is also an option for Chelsea to buy him out right if they pay a fee of €36m at the end of this season.

The Argentine international reunites with Maurizio Sarri whom he played under at Napoli, a combination that gave the former his best season as  player with 36 league goals four seasons ago.

Speaking of his move to Stamford Bridge to the club's website, the former Real Madrid striker said;

When the opportunity to join Chelsea presented itself I had to take it," 

"It's a team I've always liked that has a lot of history, a wonderful stadium and they play in the Premier League, a league I've always wanted to play in.

"I now hope I can give back that trust Chelsea have shown me out on the pitch. I can't wait to start and I hope to adapt as soon as possible."

The future of Alvaro Morata is now expected to be clarified in the last week of the transfer window, with the striker to set to be sold or loaned out for the reminder of the season.