Dealt a blow in their pursuit of Arsenal’s 28-year-old striker Alexis Sanchez, Real Madrid are set to test Chelsea’s resolve to hold onto Eden Hazard, 26, after Russia 2018, claims the Daily Mirror.
The Belgian international move to the top of Zinedine Zidane’s shopping list when Sanchez declared his intention to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when his contract with the north London club ends.
Earlier this month, Hazard fanned the flames of speculation when he refused to rule out leaving Chelsea after the World Cup.
A member of the Belgium squad which many are tipping as dark horses for the trophy, he declared himself content with life in London at the moment but he opened the door to a move to La Liga when he said “the Spanish league is special. Why not? For the moment I’m here.”
The mercurial winger whom many observers believe is playing the best football of his career, went onto praise Real Madrid’s French coach Zinedine Zidane, labelling him “magic” in an interview with Marca which went viral.
Hazard recently returned to first team action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Chelsea are expected to open negotiations with Hazard as his contract has three seasons remaining, including this one.
If the deal isn’t struck by next summer, the Blues may decide it is time to cash in on the much-admired Hazard.
