Newcastle United are reportedly willing to offer £17.4m (€20m) to sign Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard.
The 31-year-old faces an uncertain future at the Santiago Bernabeu as he has struggled for regular game time under head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
After enduring an injury-hit 2021-22 campaign, Hazard has since featured only six times – including four substitute outings – for Los Blancos across all competitions this season.
The likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio have all been preferred ahead of Hazard in the final third, and the Belgium international recently admitted that he has been frustrated with his lack of regular first-team football.
"There have been difficult times because I want to play and I don't play," Hazard told reporters via Marca last month.
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"I feel good at Real Madrid, I just play less. And when I play, I play well. It's a delicate situation because I want to play more.
"I know what I can do when I play. I want to scratch the maximum number of minutes and get to the World Cup in shape."
According to El Nacional, Real Madrid 'no longer trust' Hazard and they are prepared to part ways with the winger, who has failed to live up to expectations following his big-money move from Chelsea in 2019.
Hazard is understood to have already revealed to teammate Thibaut Courtois that he is preparing to leave Los Blancos in January and he is eyeing a return to the Premier League.
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The report adds that Newcastle are the frontrunners to sign the Belgian and they are willing to table a bid of £17.4m (€20m), an offer Real Madrid president Florentino Perez would be ready to accept.
The Magpies have spent around £200m since their Saudi-backed owners bought the club just over a year ago, and they may consider strengthening Eddie Howe's squad further in 2023 as they bid to maintain their position in the top four of the Premier League.
Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest in Hazard, with newly-appointed manager Unai Emery contemplating an ambitious swoop in the winter window.
The Midlands outfit managed to recruit Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona on a permanent deal over the summer under the tutelage of former boss Steven Gerrard and they are keen to make another statement signing in the form of two-time Premier League winner Hazard.
Hazard, who is under contract at the Bernabeu until June 2024, has made a total of 72 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, scoring only seven goals and provided 11 assists.
Oliver Thomas
