Reports in the British press suggest that Chelsea FC attacker Eden Hazard would prefer staying at Stamford Bridge over returning to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain should a transfer to Real Madrid not materialise in the future.
La Liga giants Real Madrid replaced Rafael Benítez with club legend Zinedine Zidane earlier this season in a move that has only served to intensify rumours regarding the possible transfer of Chelsea star Eden Hazard to Santiago Bernabéu.
This is due to the nature of the relationship Hazard shares with his idol Zidane with the World Cup winner often reciprocating the sentiment by heaping praise on the mercurial Belgian international.
According to Mail Online, the 25-year-old would prefer staying in London if a transfer to Real Madrid does not take place this summer. The report suggests that PSG is not an option for Hazard, who does not wish to return to Ligue 1 having already won the major trophies in French domestic football during his time with Lille.
The report also claims that Chelsea price their most valuable asset at an incredible £80 million — a figure that would make even Florentino Pérez baulk. However, Chelsea may reportedly consider cashing in on the attacker, as well as compatriot Thibaut Courtois and Brazilian midfielder Oscar, in an attempt to present the new manager with a veritable war-chest in the summer.
Atlético Madrid’s prolific forward Antoine Griezmann is said to be Chelsea’s main transfer target if Hazard does choose to make the switch this summer.
Real Madrid transfer impossible without sale of at least one superstar
Although Real Madrid could reasonably afford Eden Hazard even without the sale of one of their Galacticos, the Belgian simply does not have a place in the squad unless someone is first moved on. There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Cristiano Ronaldo and even Gareth Bale this season, and it would likely take the departure of one of the two for the move to materialise.
Zidane also has the incredibly gifted Isco and James Rodríguez in his squad, and the two have been competing for a spot in the side given that Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema are almost automatic choices. Adding Hazard to the squad without making room for him first would be illogical — even by Florentino Pérez’s standards. For now, Chelsea FC fans can relax, safe in the knowledge that a lot of events would first need to take place before Hazard’s potential exit becomes a serious talking point.
