Hazard’s yours... for £43million!

EVERYONE HAZ THEIR PRICE ... and Lille star Eden's is £43million

LILLE have slapped an astonishing £43million price tag on Arsenal and Chelsea target Eden Hazard.

The Belgian midfielder, 20, is one of Europe's hottest properties, with Real Madrid and Inter also keen.

But Lille president Michel Seydoux insists any buyer must meet the hefty asking price if they are to prise Hazard away from his side, who won the French Ligue One title last season.

Seydoux said: "The price is 50million euros — and we'd like to make that clear in advance.

"We are at a stage when the club is having discussions about what to do. It depends on the offers we get.

"Nobody is unsellable. We would be able to look for replacements with the money we would receive."

AC Milan swoop for outcast Tevez

AC MILAN were last night closing in on a deal to buy Carlos Tevez in January.

The Argy's advisor Kia Joorabchian is in Milan for talks and a deal worth between £25-£30million for the AWOL Manchester City striker is in the early stages of being worked out. It had been thought a short-term loan was on the cards but the word in Italy is a permanent transfer is on the negotiating table.

Our source said: "Milan are making no secret of the fact they are interested in Tevez and are talking to Joorabchian about a permanent transfer."

Tevez is currently back home in Buenos Aires after leaving City without permission a fortnight ago.

Boss Roberto Mancini is happy to see the back of him but has insisted City want the £40m market value for the striker, although privately City admit they will not get it.

Milan want Tevez, 27, to prove his fitness and convince them he is mentally up for the challenge of Serie A.

If he does that, Milan boss Massimiliano Allegriare is ready to finalise a bid.

Milan need a new striker in January because of doubts over the future of Antonio Cassano, who had heart surgery, and injury-prone Alexandre Pato.

AVB fights to stay as Chelsea boss

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS is fighting for his Chelsea future after only five months in charge.

The young Portuguese manager was brought in to move the club forward after Carlo Ancelotti's sacking.

But there are already concerns among the players that he is taking the team backwards.

They are not convinced by his tactics or his ability to make the right decisions when things are going against them.

Villas-Boas, 34, was hired to mount a twin-pronged assault on the Champions League and Premier League.

But Chelsea are in danger of going out of the Champions League and trail Prem leaders Manchester City by 12 points.

It is the worst start the Blues have made to a season since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003.

They are down to fifth in the table and only goal difference has prevented a drop to seventh.

The word from the Chelsea hierarchy is Villas-Boas will be given more time, especially as owner Abramovich paid £13m to bring him in from Porto.

But Abramovich will not allow the decline carry on indefinitely.

Villas-Boas has held a series of crisis meetings with his squad and has been asking the players to help find solutions.

A dressing room insider told Sunsport: "It's at times like these that players look to the manager for strength and leadership but they don't see it coming from Villas-Boas.

"He is only 34 and perhaps the club are wondering if they made a mistake in bringing in such a young boss.

"There was a lot of respect for Ancelotti but there is not the same feeling for Villas-Boas at the moment."

The added worry for Villas-Boas is that the club's former caretaker boss Guus Hiddink is lurking in the shadows after leaving his job as Turkey chief.

Mario Gotze is not for sale, Dortmund warn Arsenal

Mario Gotze limped off injured against Arsenal on Wednesday night

Arsenal's hopes of signing Germany international Mario Gotze have been knocked back by Borussia Dortmund.

The midfielder, 19, played in his side's 2-1 Champions League defeatagainst the Gunners on Wednesday before limping off.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Gotze, valued at £30m, in the transfer window.

MARIO GOTZE

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• Born: Memmingen, Germany, 3 June, 1992
• Position: Attacking midfielder
• Height: 5 ft 7ins
• Weight: 10st
• Scored 11 goals in 44 appearances for Dortmund
• Came on as substitute for Germany in their last game against Holland

But director of sport Michael Zorc said: "I am 99% sure Mario Gotze will play next season at Borussia Dortmund."

Gotze has already won 10 caps for his country, scoring two goals, and has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe with Manchester United and Bayern Munich also being linked to the player.

However, Zorc is insistent his club's prized asset is going nowhere.

"It surprises me how much ignorance big parts of the media show in the way they handle this subject," Zorc said.

"All the relevant people on this topic - the player, his family, the player's agent and not least us as a club have all said clearly: There will be no transfer for Mario Gotze.

"Now you can throw the topic in a heavy chest and let cobwebs grow on it.
"

Chelsea explore possibility of a new stadium at Battersea Power Station

Chelsea are exploring the possibility of building a new 55-60,000-seater stadium at Battersea Power Station.

The club has made no decision to leave Stamford Bridge and still need to buy back the freehold of the famous ground before they can move anywhere.

But they have appointed a London architecture firm to draw up plans for the relocation of 3.3 miles.

They are acting to make sure they do not miss out on the site should they choose to move from Stamford Bridge.

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In light of current developments, we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the BPS site to be developed for a football stadium

Chelsea spokesman

A Chelsea spokesman said: "In the past, we've talked to various people with interests in Battersea Power Station, but we haven't had any substantive discussions with anyone regarding that site for several months.

"However, in light of current developments, we now think it prudent to look again at the feasibility and potential for the BPS site to be developed for a football stadium.

"We have made no decision to leave Stamford Bridge, and we continue to discuss with the local council any economically viable options to expand the the Bridge, but we will continue to investigate various options close to Stamford Bridge."

The Blues have appointed Mike Hussey, chief executive of Almacantar, as their development partner and have hired architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox to draw up plans.

But they cannot move anywhere unless they sell the land at Stamford Bridge and are trying to come up with a plan to persuade Chelsea Pitch Owners to sell them the freehold after the supporter-led company rejected last month's offer.

The club is still hoping to persuade the owners of Earls Court to give them permission to build there but the prospects look slim.

There could also be complications with the Battersea Power Station site whose owners have been trying for a year to find an equity investor to fund a proposed £5.5bn redevelopment.

Energy stopped being generated at the station in 1983, but the site is still used for hosting events - one of the latest being the ATP World Tour Finals Gala.

Hodgson blasts Odemwingie

ROY HODGSON has taken a swipe at Peter Odemwingie — claiming the striker has offered 'nothing' this season.

The West Brom boss is unhappy the Nigerian keeps missing games and questioned his overall commitment.

He said: "I'm frustrated because we've got nothing out of him this year.

"He didn't take part in many of the pre-season matches and he hasn't taken part in many of the matches since then.

"It's been one problem after another.

Odemwingie, 30, was the Baggies star last season, scoring 15 Premier League goals, and was awarded a bumper new three-year contract this summer worth £40,000-a-week.

But he is yet to replicate that form or repay the club's faith in him.

The striker has grabbed just two goals in nine games this term and keeps pulling out of comebacks after a knee injury.

Hodgson added: "Peter is difficult to work out — you would have to speak to the doctor about him.

"This is still the same problem he's had for a month. He was supposed to be fit for the Arsenal game but wasn't.

"Then he was definitely going to be fit for the Bolton game but wasn't.

"And he is supposed to be fit for the Tottenham game and now there's a doubt about that too.

"So I take any optimism with a pinch of salt."

The Baggies boss complained: "For a player who we really put so much into in the hope that he would be a major force for staying in the Premier League we have not had much of a return.

"What makes it even harder is when you get a player who is frustrated or is frustrating it gets highlighted more when you have players like the Geras, Longs, Reids and the Thomas' who play through pain every week."

Hodgson cited Odemwingie's new contract as another reason the club should be getting more out of the star despite the emergence of Shane Long, a £4.5million signing from Reading.

He added: "When you sign that contract and accept a lot more money following a good season, then you automatically accept that the club thinks you're the man and that can put pressure on you.

"Your star players need to be available for selection — the fact someone else might have come in and done well is irrelevant.

"There is a hierarchy at every football club."

Long is a major doubt for the visit of Spurs on Saturday after getting a bang on his right leg in training.

Graham Dorrans is also facing a race to be fit with an ankle problem but Paul Scharner should return from his knee injury.

Mansour is toying with you, City

NAPOLI president Aurelio de Laurentiis has taunted Manchester City by saying owner Sheikh Mansour may soon get bored.

The Serie A side put Roberto Mancini's men on the brink of a Champions League exit with their 2-1 home win on Tuesday.

And De Laurentiis believes Manchester City's mega-rich owner will want a rapid return on the £987million he has ploughed in at the Etihad.

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The controversial film impresario said: "I think Sheikh Mansour just wanted a toy when he bought Manchester City.

"If they don't win something quickly, he could just go somewhere else and buy another toy.

"If Mansour would like to invest in Napoli he should invest as much as I did and get your team to improve and grow.

"Our success proves two things — perhaps money isn't everything, as even with balanced books you can still go far.

"And this Napoli side has a strong fibre and can give us great moments."

City's likely exit from the Champions League at the first hurdle could cost them as much as £20m.

Mancini's men now need to beat Bayern Munich and pray that pointless Villarreal can take something against Napoli.

But Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warned: "We're still going to try and win. There are points for the five-year ranking at stake — and there's 800,000 Euros to the winner of the game."

Spurs ’n Blues in £7m Cahill war

MOVING ON ... Gary Cahill

BOLTON hope to trigger a bidding war between Chelsea and Tottenham for Gary Cahill in January.

The England star is out of contract at the end of the season and Wanderers have given up hope of keeping the defender.

Cahill is eager to boost his chances of a starting place in Fabio Capello's Euro 2012 team by proving he can perform for a top Premier side.

Chelsea are ready to pay £7million as boss Andre Villas-Boas was impressed by Cahill's partnership with Blues skipper John Terry at international level.

But Bolton have their fingers crossed that the price will be driven up with Tottenham also keen to renew their interest.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp failed with a summer bid that could have been worth up to £13m.

Wenger joy as Van hits top gear - Arsenal 2 B Dortmund 1

ROB'S ROCKIN' ... Van Persie celebrates as his amazing goal run goes on

ROBIN VAN PERSIE'S amazing goal spree continued as Arsenal became the first English team into the Champions League knockout phases.

He went double Dutch with two strikes to take his Gunners tally this term to 17. Arsene Wenger hailed his skipper, saying: "Robin is in a period where he doesn't have to look for goals. They just come naturally for him. He's always in the right place at the right moment.

"He got two goals from positions where it looks easy but it's not — it's because he understands the game so well.

Robin van Persie is exceptional. He takes advantage of our offensive style from the wings but I don't deny he is the one who is scoring the goals so I hope we can keep him fit.

"What I saw in him to make him captain is he speaks his mind, he is completely focused on football, thinks day and night about the game and is completely dedicated.

"It's not always obvious to make a striker captain because they are a bit more focused on their game."

Van Persie's first was set up by a piece of magic by Alex Song who saluted his goal-hungry team-mate. He said: "Robin is unbelievable at the moment."

Wenger admitted he was surprised Arsenal are the first English club to book their place in the last 16. He said: "The level in the Champions League has gone up and we were in a difficult group.

"So I'm happy and pleased to be through, especially when you see where we came from."

Time for AVB to start praying - Bayer Leverkusen 2 Chelsea 1

GOD HELP ME ... Andre Villas-Boas

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS was left praying for help last night as his Chelsea nightmare continued.

After a last-gasp Champions League defeat the under-fire Blues boss admitted: "We are in a negative spiral of results and the team is trying desperately to get out if it.

"Our confidence is low right now and they expect the manager to inspire them.

"That is my job — to motivate and inspire these players to change our fortunes. The responsibility is mine.

"But we will also need our fans behind us for our final group game at home to Valencia. It is a critical moment for the team.

"I think it was an unfair result. Neither team played good football but that's not what matters now.

"What matters is Leverkusen have taken three important points to change the whole nature of this group.

"It is still in our own hands to qualify and we expect to do our job, but Valencia are a team on the up.

"It's tough for a lot of the English teams in the Champions League at the moment. We have been suffering a lot, conceding a lot of goals and we have to get back to winning.

"At the moment, everything is happening to us but there are no excuses."

Villas-Boas revealed Brazilian centre-half David Luiz had to come off midway through the second-half and refused to blame sub Alex for Manuel Friedrich's last-gasp winner.

AVB added: "David Luiz was feeling very dizzy and sick at half-time. He decided to continue for the team but we had to make the substitution.

"Alex is a brave defender and the marking at the corner was correct but Friedrich got that inch to head the ball into our net.

"When you go through defeats like this, we go through all the details to try to get things right — and we just have to believe the win is close."