Hazard: Real Madrid reportedly agree terms with Chelsea man
Onda Madrid claims that Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Eden Hazard as they seek to take the Belgian to LaLiga in the summer.
Real Madrid now have a deal in place with Eden Hazard as they bid to sign the Belgian from Chelsea next season, according to a report on Spanish radio. Onda Madrid says that, after a summer of flirtation between club and player, the LaLiga giants have agreed terms with Hazard, 27, whose Blues contract runs out in 2020.
Chelsea after 170m euros, Madrid keen on Kovacic part-exchange
However, Chelsea will not let Hazard go easily. The Premier League club value the attacking midfielder at around 170m euros, a fee that Madrid - who are thought to be eyeing a part-exchange deal involving Mateo Kovacic - would not be willing to shell out for a player entering the final year of his contract.
Currently on loan in West London from Los Blancos, Kovacic doesn't want to return to the Bernabéu when his temporary Chelsea deal ends in the summer, and the six-time English champions would like the Croatian midfielder to stay on.
Chelsea working hard to convince Hazard to extend contract
Hazard has frequently spoken of his desire to one day play for Madrid, notably doing so earlier this season in an interview in which he admitted he would also happily extend his contract at Chelsea, where he feels settled, is a fan idol, and has a club board desperate to persuade him to renew.
Hazard's coach, Maurizio Sarri, is also keen for Chelsea to keep the former Lille man, telling the media this week: "It's up to him. I think the club is available to sign a new contract immediately, but it's up to him if he wants to renew or not. I want Eden here, of course, but I want him here if he wants to stay here."
However, reports in the UK say Chelsea's policy of only handing one-year contracts to players over 30 - Hazard reaches the milestone just over six months after his current agreement expires - could prove a stumbling block.
