Eden Hazard has 'no intention' of renewing his contract with Chelsea, a move which is likely to force the Blues to sell him this summer.
The 28-year-old's contract expires at the end of next season and without a further extension in place, Chelsea will face the prospect of losing their star player on a free transfer should they not sell him during the next transfer window.
Real Madrid are the most likely destination for the Belgium international and according to the Telegraph, Hazard may well have forced his current club to negotiate with the Spanish giants by refusing to sign any new deal.
Chelsea want £100million for the Belgian, which Real Madrid are reluctant to match. However, now that Hazard has indicated he will refuse to sign new terms, the Blues will be compelled to negotiate with Zinedine Zidane's side in order to avoid a Bosman exit this time next year.
Zidane sees Hazard as potentially a 20-goal per season player and the former Lille playmaker sees this summer as his last chance to make a major move to the Bernabeu having now turned 28.
Hazard has been exceptional for Chelsea in a team that has fired hot and cold throughout the campaign.
He has been directly involved in 31 goals in 42 appearances for the Blues this season in all competitions - scoring 19 times.
Two of those came on Monday night as he inspired Maurizio Sarri's side to an important 2-0 victory over West Ham as the Blues seek to cement a top-four spot.
Hazard's first goal on 24 minutes was a thing of beauty as he waltzed through West Ham's midfield and defence before firing past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
His value to those at Stamford Bridge is plain to see and coach Sarri highlighted his importance to the club's aspirations next term after the match.
He said: 'From the technical point of view, we can't afford to lose him,' said the Blues boss. 'Also because it's impossible to find another Hazard. At the moment there isn't another Hazard, the level is so high.
'You'd have to find two players to make the level of Hazard. So I hope Hazard can stay here, otherwise, we'll have to try something different.
'I'm sure the club doesn't want to sell him, but, of course, we all have to respect his decision, I think. He's in the last season of contract (next year).
'If he wants to have another experience, we'll respect that. We'll try, of course, in any way to convince him to stay, but it's not easy.'
Elsa98
112
This is seriously bad for chelsea.☹️
Bohcimrt
83
I'm actually surprised by my fellow Chelsea fans who are asking Chelsea to keep Hazard at the club. For heaven's sake the bloke has always, loudly praised Real Madrid more often than he said anything good about Chelsea and without shame flirted with Zidane while throwing his desire to join Real Madrid in our faces. What more do you want him to do to show you his contempt for our club? Do you want him to spit in your faces? I for one would like to say let him go rather than keep a disloyal player and risk him leaving for free. Don't be fooled by his excellent performance in Blues shrt, it's not because he loves the club but meant to raise his profile inorder to effectively woo Real Madrid. Let him go, Courtois did the same but while the club is still intact, where is he now? Warming the bench at Madrid, something unheard of when he was at Chelsea.
SINGAM23
61
No Intention OR No Interest 🙄
De_Dean
58
If he dares to force a move to Madrid, then a Courtois' Madrid situation will befall him Next season.... If Madrid really want him, then they should pay the right amount that will be acceptable to both Chelsea's board, fans and the footballing world...
Vezonic22
52
If Chelsea plays the cards well, they better sell him and grab that money like hell. Come on, he's 28 and have got few more years of good football in him. Pretty soon injuries will start creeping in and then Chelsea be fuming and baffled. If he refuses to sign, better cash in on the bloke and buy a replacement, maybe two. Let the other team takes the looming headache and get whatever can be gotten out of him. Players come player go!!