Barcelona Transfer News: Potential £43m Bid for Eden Hazard, Top Rumours

Eden Hazard could join Barcelona for a cut-price £43 million, after reports suggested Real Madrid would have to break the world record to land the Chelsea star.

Spanish outlet Don Balon (h/t Mark Brus of Metro) claim the Blaugrana could move for the diminutive attacker, who has suffered a sorry spell at Stamford Bridge in recent months.

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail reported Los Blancos want the Belgium international but fear Chelsea would quote a record fee in excess of the £86 million they paid for Gareth Bale's signature when he arrived from Tottenham Hotspur.

The Camp Nou club have already contacted Hazard over the prospect of the move, per Don Balon, as coach Luis Enrique looks to strengthen his forward line.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

However, the attacker has gone from PFA Player of the Year to Blues substitute after suffering a crisis of confidence during an alarming slip in form.

The 24-year-old only has two assists from his 16 Premier League and European appearances this season, according to WhoScored.com, compared to the 28 goals he was directly involved in during Chelsea's championship-winning campaign.

Hazard's performances have shocked the Blues faithful, forcing manager Jose Mourinho to drop the player as he looks for a new formula for his side, with Chelsea languishing in 16th place in the table.

However, the entity from last year would be worth every bit of the reported £43 million fee and would be regarded as a steal if he recaptures his performance value of 2014-15.

Barca initially struggled when Lionel Messi was recently injured, highlighting the squad's lack of depth after Pedro left for Chelsea.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Hazard would offer Enrique a top-class option when he needs to shuffle the pack, giving the player a fresh platform to tread as he attempts to escape his Premier League misery.

Sky Sports' Gary Neville has questioned Hazard since his dip in form, speculating whether he has the tools to dance with the likes of Lionel Messi, year after year:

"

I mentioned three or four months ago, that he [Hazard] was heading towards becoming on the best players in the world.

Of course the best players have dips, but even when they have dips they contribute to the team, they score goals, provide assists.

You have to question his mentality, he's a nice kid, but is he really a killer? You think about Messi and you think of Ronaldo - I think he's got to answer that question now.

"

Hazard's recent performances wouldn't warrant a place in Barca's starting XI, but a quick move away from Chelsea could reignite his career and motivate him to hit the heights of six months ago.

Tello Ready for Premier League

Ariel Schalit/Associated Press

Liverpool are chasing Barcelona's Cristian Tello, as new Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp looks for suitable recruits to boost his options.

Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t the Daily Star's Jamie Anderson) state the Premier League club want to do business with the Catalan giants by tempting Tello, who is currently on loan with Porto, to Merseyside.

Barca are currently reviewing their finances and will be keen to sell a number of individuals as they try to balance the books, with former president Joan Laporta saying to Radio Monte Carlo (h/t Anderson): "The situation isn’t good and to balance the accounts [current president Josep Maria] Bartomeu will have to sell players or other assets. The best solution is to sell big players."

However, if the Blaugrana wish to hold on to their best players, it is more likely fringe talent such as Tello will be released with minimal fuss.

The news of the club's troubled finances would also hinder their chances of taking a player such as Hazard.

If he comes on to the market, any buyer will have to present him with a huge wage deal and make it worth his while to jump the gravy train of the Premier League.

English football's £5 billion TV deal kicks in soon, as reported by the BBC, weakening the position of Spain's big two clubs, forcing them to play catch up with the powerhouses from the north-west and London.