Chelsea transfer news: Blues enter race to sign Bale, Hazard turns down contract extension and more - 29th December 2017

Chelsea set for a transfer battle with Manchester United

The January transfer window is almost upon us and Metro News has reported that Chelsea have joined the race to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale and are ready to match Manchester United's offer for the Welshman.

The 28-year-old, who won three Champions League titles, one La Liga and one Copa del Rey since his move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, has been valued in the region of £80m by Real Madrid.

Despite struggling with form and fitness in Spain, Bale could be the ideal man to complement the abilities of Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are desperately in need of a right-winger and that is why they are keeping a tab on Bale, who is under contract with Madrid until 2021.

Yannick Carrasco looks poised to leave Atletico Madrid in January

Carrasco has won 21 caps to date and hit five international goals.

According to the Daily Star, Diego Simeone has put Yannick Carrasco on his January transfer list as the Spanish club are preparing a major overhaul of the squad after a disappointing campaign in the Champions League this season.

The 24-year-old, who has had several run-ins with teammates Koke, Gabi and the club's fitness coach Oscar Ortega in the past 18 months, has only started five La Liga games this season.

This piece of information would definitely interest Antonio Conte as he tried to sign the Belgian winger last summer but failed to crack a deal with Atletico Madrid.

However, it seems that Chelsea will have to fight it out with Arsenal as Carrasco was linked with a move to Emirates Stadium in the summer as a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez.

Chelsea to offer bumper new deal to Thibaut Courtois

Courtois has registered 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season.

There have been reports that Chelsea are trying to convince Thibaut Courtois to sign a five-year contract extension by offering an improvement on his current £100,00-a-week, that would make him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world.

The Belgian goalkeeper has just one year left on his current deal and according to the Daily Star, Courtois wants to join Real Madrid in 2018.

The 25-year-old's ex-girlfriend lives in Madrid with their two children and the former Atletico goalkeeper considers the Spanish capital as his home and wants to return be with his family.

If the Belgian rejects Chelsea's offer, Conte, who is already eyeing replacements, would initiate talks with Sevilla's Sergio Rico and Atletico's Jan Oblak.

Eden Hazard will not be signing a new deal with the Blues

Eden Hazard has five goals in 17 appearances so far this season

Eden Hazard, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for quite some time now, has rejected a contract extension at Chelsea.

The Blues are willing to make Hazard the best-paid player in the club’s history but the 26-year-old Belgian's father Thierry Hazard told Sky Sports that his son turned down Chelsea's offer to keep the Real Madrid option open.

However, the winger's father maintains that there has been no contact with the La Liga giants as of yet.

The former Lille man was offered a long-term deal to stay at Stamford Bridge that would have seen him picking up a weekly wage of £300,000 but Hazard seems determined to work under Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.