Chelsea Transfer News: Eden Hazard, Alex Teixeira, Gonzalo Higuain, Top Rumours

Chelsea are on alert following reports Real Madrid will ramp up their bid to sign Eden Hazard amid concerns over a potential transfer ban. Plus, forward recruits are a priority at Stamford Bridge, with Alex Teixeira and Gonzalo Higuain among the Blues' top targets.

In almost identical circumstances to Barcelona, Real could incur a one-year transfer suspension in relation to the signing of underage players, according to Spanish website Fichajes (h/t Metro's Mark Brus).

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However, no punishment is assured just yet, and so Los Merengues are understood to be anxious to get a deal done for Chelsea's Hazard before any sanction can come into effect.

Brus mentions that Hazard is open to a west London exit following Chelsea's disastrous start to the season, which sees them sitting just two points off the Premier League relegation zone. ESPN FC's Michael Cox paints a picture of just how far the winger has fallen from his usual standards:

The former Lille marvel has twice been voted Chelsea Player of the Year, but he has struggled alongside the rest of his team-mates this term.

Nevertheless, Real Madrid reportedly remain interested in a talent they feel capable of returning to his best, particularly as they are hoping for swift improvement after a tough start of their own in 2015-16.

Reports linking Hazard with a move to Spain's capital have only intensified following speculation Real see him as successor to 30-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, per Spanish newspaper Sport (h/t Independent's Tom Sheen).

There is already controversy surrounding an alleged delay to Real's transfer embargo, according to Spanish football writer Rafael Hernandez, but Los Blancos may still be hopeful of avoiding such a punishment:

Regardless of whether manager Jose Mourinho loses Hazard, Chelsea are lining up a host of top-class forwards as January looms. According to James Dickenson of the Daily Express, Teixeira, Higuain and West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino are all being targeted.

The Premier League outfit may look upon Shakhtar Donetsk maestro Teixeira as the easiest purchase of that bunch considering he spoke to Brazilian website GloboEsporte in October confirming his interest (h/t James Benge of the London Evening Standard): "It's all rumours so far. I'm glad to hear a club as big as Chelsea is interested on me. It would be important to play a tournament such as the Premier League, and better yet if it came in January. I'm welcoming a new challenge."

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Dickenson mentioned the South American as a "replacement for Diego Costa," who has been terribly out of form this term, netting just three times in the Premier League and losing his place in the starting XI.

Higuain is said to be back on the club's radar after bagging six goals in his last four Serie A games, but a substantial price tag is cited as the biggest obstacle in his pursuit.

Even for a cash-rich club like Chelsea, Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis is a difficult man to budge, and Gianluca Di Marzio's translator David Amoyal describes Higuain as one of his best pieces of business:

Berahino is the only reported target with Premier League experience, but the 22-year-old hasn't started in West Brom's last four league games, making it difficult to see his chances improving at Stamford Bridge.

Come February, Mourinho's attacking lineup could be drastically altered as Chelsea seek change in a bid to get their campaign back on track.