Chelsea will demand more than £100million from Real Madrid if they try to sign Eden Hazard this summer.
Hazard has put his future at Stamford Bridge into more doubt after giving an interview to RMC Sport where he said: “I know what I'm going to do, I have decided.”
It is understood the 28-year-old wants to push ahead with plans to move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Chelsea will not let him go without a fight, however, and are putting a huge price tag on his head — even though his contract runs out next year. They have been prepared to offer well in excess of £300,000 a week to ensure he remains at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard, who has delayed any further talks over a new contract until the end of this campaign, revealed after the World Cup last summer that he wanted to leave. At the time, Real decided not to make an official offer because the Blues had intimated it could cost up to £200m for them to buy Hazard.
The Belgium international is enjoying one of his best seasons at Chelsea. He is the fourth top scorer in the Premier League with 12 goals and has made the most assists in the top flight with 10.
Chelsea have not given up hope of convincing him to stay, but will not let him run his contract down and leave on a free. Last week manager Maurizio Sarri said: “Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go. Of course, I hope the opposite. He has the potential to be the best player in Europe.”
There are still some question marks over whether Hazard is Real's first-choice target for the summer. The La Liga club are determined to spend big after struggling in the title race in Spain — they are eight points behind leaders Barcelona. Real are still believed to covet Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe but Hazard will be an easier transfer to do, despite Chelsea's high valuation.
Hazard was subject of an enquiry from Barcelona last summer but he rejected it. The attacking midfielder is only interested in a switch to Real Madrid and if it does not materialise he will seek to stay at Chelsea. One of the reasons Chelsea bought Christian Pulisic — who will arrrive in the summer — from Borussia Dortmund for £57.4m was to have him in place before any possible departure for Hazard.
Should Hazard leave, it could help Chelsea's bid to keep Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is wanted by Bayern Munich. Hudson-Odoi's preferred position is on the left flank, which is where Hazard plays on a regular basis.
The club will still look at possible players to recruit in case Hazard leaves. Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been mentioned as a candidate, having struggled at the Nou Camp. However, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: “It's not [possible], he is very young and we expect a lot from him. We do not want to sell to Coutinho.”
Barcelona-Arsenal
205
hazard entering into last 12 months of his contract in the summer (expires 6.30.2020)... if not this summer, next january for cut price is very likely unless he leaves for free in the following summer
Necadklo
151
Madrid shouldn't waste 100 mil for a player who will turn 29 that time.. instead should invest more and buy Mbappe or Kane
chidesco1
61
Once beaten, twice shy. They did it with courtious and caused us to pay exorbitant prices for a young goalie. Now Chelsea are wise. Moreover hazard's replacement might've been signed already in pulisic.
madridsta_5199
55
Chelsea logic 28 year old Hazard is worth 100 million + while wonderkid 19 year old Pulisic is worth 58 million what this doesn't make sense.