Chelsea transfer news and rumours: Blues want Oxlade-Chamberlin; Manchester United plot Hazard swoop

All of the latest transfer news and rumours from Stamford Bridge today

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in contention to return for Arsenal (Getty Images)

Chelsea will target Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain if Belgian winger Eden Hazard decides to leave the club, according to The Sun.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 22, has previously been linked with the Blues and was said to be a favourite of former manager Jose Mourinho.

The England midfielder, who has 24 caps for the Three Lions, has suffered another injury hit spell, but he would likely be second-choice in Arsene Wenger's midfield when everyone is fully fit, with Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere all ahead of him in the Emirates pecking order.

Hazard is again a darling of the back pages today, with various themes on the current status of the 24-year-old

Manchester United have been told to give up on Gareth Bale by Real Madrid and will not turn their attention on Hazard, according to the Daily Star.

The Red Devils will apparently make a £65million bid for the reigning Premier League Player of the Year.

However, Hazard has not yet decided his future and will remain at Stamford Bridge until at least the summer. The Daily Telegraph state that Hazard will wait to see which manager Roman Abramovich appoints next, while the Daily Star add that Didier Drogba, likely to return as a coach this month, could be the key to holding onto Hazard.

Chelsea are linked with just about every available player on the market it would seem.

PSG forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato, and Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Alex Teixeira continue to be linked, as do Jamie Vardy and Gareth Bale.

It looks set to be a busy January for Chelsea's transfer committee.

In dugout gossip, the Daily Mail, report that Chelsea approached Carlo Ancelotti a full five weeks before they eventually sacked Premier League winning manager Jose Mourinho on 17 December.

Ancelotti, of course, rejected the move and will replace Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich in the summer. The Italian, who led Chelsea to the Double in 2010, did not want to return on a short-term deal to the club that sacked him in the tunnel at Goodison Park in 2011.

Back on the pitch and Chelsea are among a number of European clubs looking to sign Barcelona wonderkid Xavi Simons, that too is in the Mail.

He is only 12.

Striker Radamel Falcao returned to parent club Monaco this week to have his thigh injury assessed - there are plenty of rumours linking him with a return to the Prinicipality, but like with Loic Remy, Chelsea will not want to lose depth up front without finding a replacement first.

There were some problems at the Cobham training ground on Wednesday as senior pros Oscar and Diego Costa were involved in an altercation after a heavy tackle by the striker. Oscar has since taken to social media to deny the incident took place.