Hazard will join Real Madrid in January or cut price next summer
Florentino Pérez plans to sign Eden Hazard in January or next summer, after the Chelsea star publically states his dream is to play for Real Madrid.
The poor run of results over the past two weeks (defeats against Sevilla, CSKA and Alavés, and the draw at home in the derby) have caused alarm bells in the Real Madrid boardroom, who already have a target that will put the smile back on the faces of Madridistas amid the mini crisis in which the club now finds itself.
The targeted saviour is none other than Eden Hazard. Chelsea’s Belgian midfielder will become the dream signing that Madrid so desperately needs, either in January or next summer.
After a great showing at the World Cup with semi-finalists Belgium, Hazard has had an impressive start to the season at Stamford Bridge, and is currently the Premier League’s top scorer, with seven goals in eight games. The 27-year-old is seen as the much-needed solution to end the current malaise at the Bernabéu, which has been fuelled by Madrid's shocking lack of goals.
Hazard, a step closer
Hazard has already taken the first step, publically stating his desire to play at the Bernabéu on the request of Madrid, in order to help bring forward an agreement between the two clubs. "I don't want to lie today. It [playing for Real] is my dream since I was a kid,” the Chelsea star told the media after the Blues' Premier League win over Southampton on Sunday.
Hazard’s contract at Chelsea ends in 2020 and the operation to bring him to Madrid is expected to be similar to that of Thibaut Courtois. The fact that he has no plans to renew his contract at Stamford Bridge will allow Florentino Perez and Real Madrid’s managing director José Ángel Sánchez to negotiate a reasonable price with Chelsea, as happened with his Belgian teammate Courtois.
January or summer, depending on how things go at Madrid
If things continue to go badly at the Bernabéu, Madrid plan to sign Hazard urgently in the January transfer window for a fee of between €100 million and €120 million. If things return to normal, then they will hold out until the summer, when they would be in a position to offer less money (up to €80 million), as at that point he would only be six months away from leaving Chelsea on a free transfer.
“You can play him in any position and if he has said it that clearly [that he wants to play for Madrid] then that’s the way it is,” Hazard’s Chelsea teammate and ex-Madrid player, Álvaro Morata told Spanish broadcaster Cuatro at Spain’s training camp on Tuesday.
That is the way it is. And that will happen in January or next summer.