Who will end up being the greatest player at the Bridge: Mata, Hazard or even Oscar?

West Ham knew it would be tricky when they travelled to Stamford Bridge at the weekend, but playing Chelsea is more than tough when both Juan Mata and Eden Hazard are on form, and the pair of them combined to devastating effect to guide their side to a comfortable win.

At no point during this season have Chelsea had a reliable striker to call on, but for most of the time it has barely mattered. Mata became the first player to collect ten league goals and ten assists in the Premier League this season at the weekend, whilst Hazard has eight in each category in the league.

Across all competitions the pair have scored 30 goals and set up 43, and they are now the axis around which Chelsea's attack dominates. Chelsea might not have been able to replace Didier Drogba with another striker of the same quality, but the side has not lost out overall, with their attacking midfielders now the fulcrum of their play.

Hazard matched Mata's goal tally from the Spaniard's first season at the weekend, and there is every chance the Belgian will go on to add a few more in the last few months. The real challenge will be trying to emulate Mata in his second season, when the Spanish maestro has developed into one of the best players in the Premier League.

If Mata continues to improve at his current rate, surely not even Hazard can live with him, but it will be interesting to see which of the pair ends up as the bigger legend at Stamford Bridge. As Frank Lampard nears the end of a glittering career at the Blues, Chelsea have at least two men who look able to carry his mantle to even greater heights.

But they might even have three. So far Oscar's best performances have come in Europe, with his brace against Juventus the mark of a truly special player. Coming from Brazil, he had a harder job to settle in England than Mata or Hazard, but he has certainly done well in his first season. Chelsea will no doubt be hoping he can develop even quicker in the company of Hazard and Mata, and given that all three are still very young, the future looks very bright at Stamford Bridge.

Which of Oscar, Mata and Hazard do you think will end up having the biggest impact at Chelsea?

Spanish report claims 'exclusive' with Falcao to Chelsea negotiations advanced in secret meeting

Falcao to Chelsea is a transfer saga which appears to have a fresh twist each week.

Atletico Madrid are said to be wise to the fact they could lose star striker Falcao this summer, with Javier Hernandez and Burak Yilmaz two strikers touted as potential replacements in recent days.

Talk in Spain heightening over the Colombian's impending departure, with Spanish radio show Punto Pelota running an 'exclusive' regarding his future.

So what does this 'exclusive' contain exactly?

Well it claims that on Sunday, an hour before Atletico Madrid took on Osasuna in La Liga, the club's top brass convened a secret meeting in the Spanish capital.

Present were Miguel Angel Gil, club CEO, Jorge Mendes, Falcao's agent, and intriguingly - former Chelsea director Peter Kenyon.

It is claimed by Punto Pelota that the meeting had two outcomes:

- Atletico admitted they have no chance of matching any wages Chelsea will offer the Colombian striker.

- As part of any deal with Chelsea, the club want to push to keep goalkeeper Thiabut Courtois another year.

Now neither of these statements are earth-shatteringly fresh, but the fact the meeting took place and Atletico are making a plan of action regarding Falcao's future is new.

But what of Peter Kenyon's involvement?

Well Kenyon remains on good terms with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich; but most poignantly - It has been previously claimed that he stands to profit from the deal.

The Mail reported last year that Kenyon is in business with Jorge Mendes, running three third-party ownership football funds. They are claimed to have a stake in Falcao which Atletico would have to repay as third party ownership is forbidden in the Premier League, which is why he was involved in negotiations.

With UEFA pushing FIFA to outlaw third party ownership, it is in all parties interests for the move to Chelsea to go through quickly, and Kenyon's business holdings to recapture and profit the stake they hold in Falcao. 

While Punto Pelota claim Kenyon's presence at the meeting was an indication he will move to the Blues, it is likely he was there due to the latter, but they also stated he is still in regular contact with Roman Abramovich and if he can use his Chelsea contacts to his own advantage, bet on it happening.

Do you expect Falcao to sign for Chelsea in the summer?

Belgian star remains coy on Chelsea future

Lukaku has excelled at West Brom. (©GettyImages)

Football News 24/7

On-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has refused to discuss his immediate future, saying that he wants to focus on finishing the season strongly with West Brom.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, the 19-year-old remained coy on where he will be playing his football in 2013/14, having enjoyed an impressive campaign at The Hawthorns.

Lukaku has scored 13 goals for the Baggies in just 25 Premier League appearances for Steve Clarke's side, which is the best return of any teenager in England's top-flight since Michael Owen for Liverpool in 1999.

Despite his string of scintillating performances there is no certainty that the Belgian international will be any closer to breaking into the Chelsea first-team next term, particularly while the club remains without a permanent manager. And, for that reason, Lukaku is just thinking about the here and now. 

"I am just waiting until the end of season," he said. "I am just performing for West Brom at the moment, we will see what will happen and I don't want to talk about it either.

"I want to go back to my parent club in the future - but we are doing well and I hope it will continue."

Lukaku first signed for Chelsea from Anderlecht in 2011 for an initial £10million fee that could rise to £17million with add-ons, signing a five-year contract that should keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2016.

After playing a bit-part role for the Blues in 2011/12, the 6ft 3in forward was sent to West Brom for the season to gain more first-team experience in the Premier League, and has since excelled in the Midlands.

Chelsea's young stars coming of age

Hazard & Oscar have impressed at Chelsea this season (©GettyImages)

Football News 24/7

There was a modern, fresh feel to Chelsea's win over West Ham United last weekend.

Whilst Ashely Cole and Petr Cech were their usual reliable selves and Frank Lampard started and scored, the main stars of this show were Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. 

The diminutive duo were at their creative best on Sunday afternoon. Hazard assisted for Lampard before firing in himself after an exquisite Juan Mata pass. It was not the first time these two had combined this season. 

This match was further evidence that the 'Old Guard' of Munich and Moscow are slowly taking a back seat in the modern Chelsea. 

John Terry currently finds himself in a rotation policy and has barely featured in the league this season, although he has also been hampered with injuries. Lampard must take credit for scoring 200 goals from midfield and edging closer to the all-time Chelsea record, although he too is no longer a first-team regular and rumoured to be leaving the club. 

It's not only Hazard and Mata that represent this emphatic change of style. Youngsters such as Oscar, Victor Moses and Marko Marin also add flair and skill to the side. Whilst not hitting massive heights yet, these players have tremendous ability. Oscar especially has looked exceptional in parts this year. 

Didier Drogba left as a hero last May. Lampard looks set to follow him this year. Ashley Cole and John Terry both enter the last year in their contracts soon and are perhaps unlikely to be renewed too. 

We are in the middle of a huge transition at Chelsea. 

Transfer News: Cech rubbishes any talk of Arsenal switch

Chelsea goalkeeper and Czech international Petr Cech has rubbished any possibility of himself making the move across London to the Emirates.

Recently there have been unsubstantiated reports linking the shot-stopper with a move to Emirates, although many Gooners rightly dismissed the claims.

Will Luis Suarez replace Chelsea-bound Falcao at Atletico Madrid? Transfer news from Sunday's papers

Luis Suarez: Rock me Amadeus!

Gossip and news from today's Sunday Mirror 

and the Sunday People

Manchester United have called on Chevrolet to fund £55m Cristiano Ronaldo return.

Real Madrid are putting together a stunning £110million package to capture Gareth Bale.

Wayne Rooney will be offered a new contract by Manchester United.

Arsenal and Tottenham set to battle for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Valencia’s defensive midfielder Sofiane Feghouli.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards has emerged as surprise target for Arsenal.

Barcelona have lined up Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany to replace Carles Puyol.

Manchester United are plotting a Premier League return for heart breaker Luka Modric.

Sam Byram is being lined up for an £8million summer switch from Leeds to ­Manchester City.

Xabi Alonso could be set for a Liverpool return according to reports in Spain.

Manchester City are interested in replacing Samir Nasri with Miralem Pjanic.

Transfer stories and gossip from other papers and websites

Atletico Madrid will replace Chelsea-bound Radamel Falcao with Luis Suarez in the summer (Mail on Sunday)

Pep Guardiola wants to take Wayne Rooney to Bayern Munich in the summer (Sunday Times)

Monaco are closing in on Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez (Sunday Express)

Fiorentina striker Mounir El Hamdaouis says there's no truth in rumours linking him withLiverpool (Sky Sports)

Stoke will not renew Michael Owen's contract next season (Mail on Sunday)

Arsenal are tracking Saint Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Metro)

Manchester City are considering replacing Roberto Mancini with Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde (Sunday Times)

Samir Nasri's agent insists he wants to stay at Manchester City (Sunday Express)

Man Utd vs Chelsea: Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

Chelsea travel to Old Trafford in the knowledge that they have never won an FA Cup game at the Theatre of Dreams, and scored their last FA Cup goal there in 1963. It’s a trend they must buck if they want to win a domestic trophy this season. Both clubs are out of the Champions League but, as United currently sit atop the English football pyramid, Chelsea desperately need to win to have the chance of some English silverware.

The last Premier League game between the two ended in a 3-2 victory for United. Javier Hernandez scored the winner that day and often enjoys games against the Londoners; the Mexican has netted five in his last six matches against them.

Team News

Wayne Rooney will most likely make a return to the starting eleven after only appearing as a substitute against Real Madrid. Sir Alex Ferguson moved quickly to quash rumours of a rift between himself and the player this week. He told gathered journalists at the Manchester United training ground: “There is no issue between myself and Wayne Rooney. To suggest we don’t talk is nonsense. He understood the reasons [for leaving him out] entirely.”

The 71-year-old manager also faces disciplinary action from UEFA for not fulfilling his post-match duties, but Rio Ferdinand will not meet the same fate for his sarcastic applause at Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir. The Red Devils can also expect a fine for instructing their players to avoid speaking to the press as they walked through the press area.

Phil Jones is still out of action with an ankle problem, while Chris Smalling hopes to return and continue his run of starting every game in the FA Cup this season. Paul Scholes is also doubt for the match as his knee injury persists and Ryan Giggs won’t recover in time.

Chelsea rested Juan Mata for their Europa League tie with Steaua Bucharest but will likely recall him to the starting lineup alongside Demba Ba, who was ineligible to play on Thursday night. Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill look set to reclaim their places in the back four as the pair also went unused in Romania.

Captain John Terry is showing no signs of fatigue in his rapid recovery from the ligament injury he suffered in 2012, and should be fit to lead his team out of the tunnel. The club’s only long-term concern is Oriel Romeu, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Source: BBC Sport

Likely Line-Ups;

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Cleverly; Valencia, Rooney, Kagawa; van Persie

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Moses, Mata, Hazard; Ba

Chelsea to sell Torres for just £15m

CHELSEA will sell Fernando Torres this summer and are prepared to take a £35million loss on the misfit striker.

Torres has been a disaster since his move from Liverpool   Club owner Roman Abramovich has at last conceded that the £50m Torres experiment has been a disastrous failure after more than two years of frustration.

Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are ready to end the Spaniard’s misery with a bid at the end of the season, but Torres would prefer a move back to his home country – which may yet provide a way for Chelsea to tempt Atletico Madrid’s Falcao to the Bridge.

He has been a long-term target and Chelsea could offer Torres back to his old club as a makeweight in a £10m-a-year deal for the Colombian.

Last night, a source close to Abramovich said: “Roman will now sell Torres – if he can get the right offer.”

Abramovich has stuck loyally by his most costly purchase for all the 26 months that Torres, 28, who signed from Liverpool in January 2011, has been at Chelsea.

But now the owner has conceded that the time has come to cut his losses. Roman Abramovich is prepared to take a loss on Torres.

Torres endured yet another dismal night in Chelsea’s Europa League defeat against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday and has now netted just once in his last 18 games. His last Premier League goal was on December 23.

An initial burst of improvement after the appointment of interim manager Rafa Benitez in November – which saw a run of seven goals in six games – has long since faded.

He is now considered as a secondary striker to Demba Ba and will lose his place in the side to the Senegalese for Sunday’s (today) FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford.