Manchester United have a problem. Despite their continued steady improvement in the four years since Moyesageddon, they currently find themselves further behind Manchester City than at any point in memory.

City trump their rivals in style, in grit, in ability, in likeability, in goals and – most importantly – in points. It’s a chasm so great that it cannot be overcome by steady improvement alone. United need to do something far more drastic. Something like buying Eden Hazard for £90m.

So that’s what they’re trying to do, apparently. Today’s Sun reports that the Red Devils are planning an audacious move for the Chelsea superstar after he turned down a £300,000-a-week offer to stay at Stamford Bridge.

This would, if it happens, be the biggest Premier League transfer coup since United snared Andy Cole from Newcastle for £7m in 1995 (well, £6m plus Keith Gillespie if you’re being pedantic about it).

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Not only is Hazard allegedly the man Jose Mourinho sees as “the missing piece in his jigsaw”, he is also good enough to get in Man City’s team, which is not something you could say for many United players.

Buying Hazard might not be as easy as rocking up and slapping £90m on the table, though. For one, he is also wanted by Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. And for two, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte would rather go bald again than let him join a Premier League rival. Basically, this is almost definitely NOT going to happen.

Still, it’s the thought the counts.

Griezmann to United deal back on?

Plus, Mourinho looks to have received an unexpected boost in his pursuit of Antoine Griezmann. The Mirror reports that Atletico Madrid are “ready” to sell the forward to United after lodging an angry complaint with FIFA about Barcelona trying to tap up the Frenchman.

Griezmann previously looked destined for the Nou Camp after Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu allegedly met his entire family at a restaurant, but this dinner date appears to have backfired – with Atletico now actively seeking an alternative buyer.

READ MORE: Conte is a much tougher boss than Mourinho, reveals Terry

Meanwhile, Everton are the latest club linked with Arsenal outcast Theo Walcott, with the Mirror claiming Toffees boss Sam Allardyce is ready to offer the winger an “escape route” from the Emirates in January. Theo’s performance against West Ham in last night’s Carabao Cup tie probably knocked a few million off his price tag too.

Allardyce also believes Everton are in “pole position” to sign Sevilla midfielder Steven Nzonzi on loan next month, despite interest from the Gunners.

Elsewhere, Newcastle have joined the race to sign Chelsea defender David Luiz, but they are only interested in signing the Brazilian on loan (Shields Gazette), Brighton are eyeing a fresh move for Spartak Moscow’s Cape Verde international striker Ze Luis after having a £5m bid turned down (Sun) and Chinese club Chongqing Dangdai Lifan do not want to sign Barcelona midfielder Andreas Iniesta as they believe he is not good enough to play in the Chinese Super League (Marca). Gotta kind of admire the cut of Chongqing Dangdai Lifan’s jib.