It’s the transfer story that just won’t go away, much to the frustration of Chelsea, who are keen to tie Eden Hazard to a lucrative new contract with the club. However, Real Madrid seems ready to pounce and money likely won’t be a problem for the Spanish giants, who are ready to make the Belgian star their next ‘Galactico’ signing.
During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while in action with the Belgian national team that secured third place at the tournament, Hazard made no secret of his “dreams” of one day pulling on the famous white shirt of Real Madrid. This brought speculation that a move to the Santiago Bernabeu was just around the corner, especially when Cristiano Ronaldo completed his €100 million switch to Juventus.
Is #CFC‘s Eden Hazard the best player in the world at the moment? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/LU91MyDBbz
— Sport360° (@Sport360) October 18, 2018
Nevertheless, new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri convinced Hazard to stay put, with the supremely talented player undoubtedly the fulcrum of a Premier League title push by the Blues. Indeed, the latest odds at MoPlay suggest the London club are amongst the outright favourites to challenge Manchester City, with Liverpool regarded as the only other serious contender for the English crown.
The exceptional form demonstrated by Hazard makes him not only one of the most in-form players in European football, it also makes him the most coveted. Ahead of the recent Premier League encounter with Manchester United, the MEN claimed that Jose Mourinho, his former Chelsea boss, regarded the Belgian as his ideal signing at Old Trafford, if money was no object and he could choose any player in the world to sign.
Hazard himself had also made positive comments about his time working under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, but rather than indicating that he might also consider a move to the Red Devils, some view his words as further evidence of trying to engineer a move to Real Madrid. Despite his future being questioned at Manchester United, according to Sky Sports, the Portuguese coach is actually being tipped for a surprise return to the Spanish capital.
Current Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has been facing mounting pressure in Spain after his team failed to score in four consecutive matches, a dismal record which is practically unheard of throughout their illustrious history. It seems that club president Florentino Perez has a fetish about former Chelsea managers, because not only has Mourinho been lined up as a potential replacement, The Metro says that Antonio Conte is also in the frame.
Either managerial appointment would give Chelsea serious reasons to be concerned when it comes to retaining the services of their most prized player. Real Madrid have often planned their coaching moves, mindful of players they are also planning to sign. Bringing in Conte or Mourinho would potentially be a further lure for Hazard, aiding his adaption at the Spanish club with a familiar figure he already knows well.
One saving grace at the moment for Chelsea, amidst all the talk and rumours, is that the player has expressed a willingness to stay with the club until the end of the season, rather than consider January an option. Beyond the end of the current campaign, with Hazard reluctant to pen a new deal at the Blues, the “dream” move to Madrid seems increasingly a case of “when” rather than “if” for the player.
