Chelsea Transfer News: Guus Hiddink Criticises Remi Garde's Loic Remy Pursuit

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink claims Aston Villa coach Remi Garde has shown a lack of respect by publicly stating his interest in Blues striker Loic Remy ahead of the January transfer window.

Garde was part of the Lyon coaching staff when Remy was coming through their ranks, but Hiddink criticised the former France international for his candid approach, per Sami Mokbel and Laurie Whitwell of the Daily Mail:

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You have to respect where the players are. If you are interested, talk first to the people with whom they are contracted. The player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us, he has a calf problem. He's having a difficult time with injury.

He has to prove first of all that he's a good Chelsea player. Things must be done if you want to reinforce your squad. You talk directly to the management of the club who owns the player. You don't go through the side door.

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Remy has become something of a Premier League journeyman during his three years in England, arriving at Queens Park Rangers in January 2013 before a loan move to Newcastle United and moving to Chelsea in 2014.

Hoping to bring about another transfer for the out-of-favour forward, Garde said he knew Remy "very well" from their time together at Lyon and called the player "special," per the Daily Mail's report:

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He is still looking to go to the French national team and Villa would not be the worst place to play for the next four or five months. Loic is quite a special one, he knows the country, the league. I can work with the players I have, but sometimes if you don't achieve that much, you can bring in a player with more confidence, with experience. It could be helpful for the team, for the spirit.

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Garde's comments could be interpreted as a way of disturbing the peace at Stamford Bridge, and basement side Aston Villa would undoubtedly be more able to offer the 28-year-old first-team minutes.

Remy has started just four games across all competitions this season and is stuck behind Diego Costa in the Chelsea pecking order, a frustrating position to be in as he looks to win his place in France's Euro 2016 squad.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Sky Sports recently quoted Garde reveling there would be widespread change at Villa Park in the new year as the club looks to turn its fortunes around following a calamitous start to the campaign.

Chelsea sit just six places and 12 points above Villa, meaning if Garde were ever to poach from Chelsea, now might be the time. However, Hiddink recently issued a hands-off warning when quizzed on the availability of Remy, per Sky Sports Audio, proclaiming "he's our player."

Hiddink may be more open to rotating his striking options rather than sticking with Costa as the primary weapon up front, considering the former Atletico Madrid man was a signing made under predecessor Jose Mourinho.

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson commented on the idea of Remy leaving the west Londoners on loan:

Aston Villa are in a desperate state, and desperate times call for desperate measures as far as Garde is concerned, with the manager likely to be wholly aware of the impact his praise might have had on the player.

Remy may yet hold out hope of carving out a first-team future at Stamford Bridge, but the Villa boss is doing all within his power to stage a reunion with his former Lyon disciple.