World Football Gossip Roundup: Hazard, Drogba, Modric, Sahin, Strootman, Torres

Now that Chelsea's Champions League run is over, the Blues' second season has started.

While owner Roman Abramovich continues his search for a new manager, several Chelsea players are in the news, either as transfer targets or quotables.

Elsewhere, the Eden Hazard saga slogs on, Bayern Munich try to reload, AC Milan target an up-and-coming star and a forgotten man declares his intention to stay at Real Madrid.

All that and more inside.

Hazard Latest

Shocking news today from wishy-washy winger Eden Hazard (we're about two more days away from that being his actual name).

Hazard, it seems, has indeed changed his mind after scoring a hat trick in Lille's season-capping 4-1 win over Nancy. Unbelievable, I know.

Speculation had leaked out this weekend that Hazard was being tempted by Chelsea even after he had declared his intent to play in Manchester next season. Now, it's apparently true.

Goal.com has all the details this time, from Lille manager Rudi Garcia:

"

"It was a lovely evening, we had a great send-off party for Eden. He still doesn't know where he's going. In the last few weeks he's changed his mind, I believe," he according to RMC.

"Things will be great for him. He's going to be a great player. The best player in the league is leaving it. Eden is a unique player, a guy who's capable of rising to challenges.

"He will remain one of the best players in LOSC's history."

"

Maybe so, but where will he play next season?

Drogba Latest

Didier Drogba appears set to leave Chelsea. According to the Daily Mail, the Ivorian is set for a free transfer to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

Drogba, 34, is out of contract this summer. He scored the decisive penalty in Chelsea's Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich this past weekend.

"

He will link up with former team-mate Nicolas Anelka in China in a contract worth around £250,000-a-week net.

His departure will be followed by fresh investment by Roman Abramovich.

"

Coaching Carousel

The coaching carousel is spinning round and round. Here's the latest.

Ajax manager Frank De Boer (pictured) has turned down Liverpool, according to ESPN Soccernet:

"

De Boer's stock is rising after guiding Ajax to back-to-back Eredivisie titles, but he is not looking for a new challenge in the near future.

"I am honoured by the request, but I am only just getting started with Ajax," De Boer told de Telegraaf. "In Amsterdam we are on a new path and, along with the club and Wim Jonk and Dennis Bergkamp, my colleagues in the technical team, I want to do great things. That's why I will stay loyal to Ajax in the coming years."

"

Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has criticized Andre Villas-Boas, who formerly managed Chelsea and is now reportedly a candidate for the Liverpool job.

From ESPN Soccernet:

"

Speaking after Chelsea's Champions League triumph, Lukaku told Sport Wereld: "I could not believe it. I had to think 'Is this really happening'? European champion ... My life has changed and I'm only nineteen.

"But there is one person that I will never forgive for what he did to me - the previous coach. It's not just that. It was also the way he spoke to me and treated me. Right from the beginning, it was weird. I could not stand how he was treating me. I received no explanation.

"In training he put me on the right or left wing. In training matches I was a substitute with a shirt to keep swapping teams. I really learned nothing! I have told the club that too. I understand that he was under pressure, but I was also thinking of myself. I have improved in recent months."

"

According to the Daily Mirror, Chelsea's players urged owner Roman Abramovich to hire Roberto Di Matteo full time.

But according to the Daily Star, Di Matteo could be heading to Aston Villa in place of the sacked Alex McLeish.

Finally, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is reportedly in line for a huge pay raise after leading the Blues to their first title in 44 years.

Modric to Leave Spurs?

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric is set to hand in a transfer request.

The Daily Mirror has the details this time:

"

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy insisted last week that the club would fight to keep its best players this summer.

But Mirrorfootball revealed 26-year-old Modric – who has had NO salary hike despite Chelsea’s interest last year – is in no hurry to commit himself to White Hart Lane.

He said: “I will decide about my future after the Euros. I will make the decision where to continue my career. I’m ready for the big tests.”

"

It's true that we've heard this before from Modric, but something tells me this time it's for real.

Bayern After Javi Martinez?

Fresh off their Champions League final disappointment, Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to strengthen their squad with Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez.

Martinez, a 23-year-old holding midfielder, reportedly has also drawn interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The details are at Goal.com:

"

Bayern Munich have joined the race to sign Athletic Bilbao's holding midfielder Javi Martinez, Kicker reports.

…

Martinez has a €40 million release clause, which does not apply if he were to be sold to a non-Spanish team, and Bayern seem reluctant to pay that amount for the midfielder.

The former Osasuna starlet signed a new long-term deal last summer to tie him to San Mames until 2016, and Athletic will reportedly only sell the influential midfielder if the right offer comes along.

"

Strootman to San Siro?

PSV midfielder Kevin Strootman could be heading to AC Milan this summer, according to reports out of Italy.

Strootman, a 22-year-old Dutch international, joined PSV from Utrecht last year.

According to the reports, Strootman would cost about €15 million.

West Ham Want Joe Cole?

Former English international Joe Cole spent the past season on loan with Lille in France.

Now the Liverpool-owned player could be on his way to London, if West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has his way.

From the Daily Mail:

"

Manager Sam Allardyce is already turning his attention to strengthening his squad as he looks to give West Ham a fighting chance of staying up next season. And former Upton Park favourite Cole is understood to be on a list of names Allardyce and his backroom team have identified as potential targets.

"

Sahin Wants Real Madrid Stay?

Nuri Sahin's first season at Real Madrid went poorly. Injuries and competition for playing time limited the Turkish international to just 10 appearances for the Spanish champions.

Nonetheless, Sahin says he wants to stay at the Bernabeu.

From Goal.com:

"

The 23-year-old has been linked with clubs such as Bayern Munich, Inter and Galatasaray in recent weeks, but Sahin is adamant that he is not going anywhere.

"I want to stay at the biggest club in the world. I have the desire to succeed here and want to prove my worth at Madrid. I'm living the dream at this club," Sahin said at a press conference.

Sahin has a contract with Madrid until the summer of 2017.

"

Torres Uncomfortable?

Finally, today's roundup concludes with a bit of good news for Liverpool fans. They need it.

Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was reportedly disappointed with his role for Chelsea in the Champions League final and is considering his future.

From Goal.com:

"

“It’s contradictory because I feel like I’m at a peak moment in my career, with more desire and hunger than I’ve felt in a long time but I’ve had to spend the final on the bench," he told AS.

"It was a huge disappointment when I saw the line-up, perhaps the biggest in my life."

"

But wait, there's more:

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“This season I have felt things that I never had before," he continued.

"I’ve felt like they treated me in a way that I didn’t expect not in the way that was spoken of when they signed me.

“We’ve had a lot of talks and we’ll talk about my future because the role I’ve had this season is not for me, nor is it the one I expected to play when I came here. I’m not comfortable.”

"

You're welcome, Scousers.

Follow @MikeCummings37