Newcastle United are stepping up their interest in Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard.

Sport says Newcastle's new owners are exploring the prospect of bringing the former Chelsea captain back to England in January.

Newcastle are open to taking Hazard on-loan for the second-half of the season.

For their part, Real Madrid management would be eager to do a deal, with Hazard not in the plans of coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Belgium captain is currently fully fit, though struggling to break into the Italian's starting line-up.