Eden
Hazard could sensationally quit Chelsea this summer – not for Real
Madrid, but LaLiga rivals Barcelona for around £80million, according to
reports.
The 27-year-old has two years remaining on his current contract with Chelsea and has not yet committed to a new deal.
Hazard
has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, as his
relationship with manager Antonio Conte deteriorated beyond repair.
Chelsea’s decision to only sack the Italian on Thursday and replace him
with Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as the Blues muddled through pre-season
looks to have come too late to change his mind.
The
Belgian has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid for
sometime, and he suggested this week a move to the Bernabeu was still on
the cards.
“Zidane is someone special it’s true, but I think Real is everyone’s dream,” he told beIN Sports.
“Zidane
or no Zidane, the white jersey [of Real] is special but the blue jersey
suits me well so it does not bother me if I stay.”
But according to Sport, the
Belgium international is now one of Barcelona’s priority targets and
the club made their first approach to Hazard’s representatives last
week.
The
Catalan giants want more attacking firepower after missing out on
Antoine Griezmann who, after a lengthy transfer saga, chose to stay at
Atletico Madrid.
The
report claims that Barcelona have been informed by Hazard’s camp that
the forward is looking to leave Stamford Bridge in order to further his
career and win more titles.
Real
Madrid aren’t giving up meanwhile, and with Cristiano Ronaldo
sensationally leaving to pursue a new challenge with Juventus for a
£88million this week, new boss Julen Lopetegui has a free place in the team and the cash to sign Hazard.
Hazard is on their four-man wishlist but, up until now, looked the most easily-attainable of all the players on it.
PSG
are highly unlikely to sell Neymar or Kylian Mbappe just a year after
they both moved to Paris. That leaves Tottenham’s Harry Kane, but he has
just signed a club-record five-year contract to stay at Spurs, and
won’t be easy to tempt away from his boyhood club.
Barcelona’s new technical secretary Eric Abidal declined to comment on the rumours today at new signing Arthur Melo’s unveiling.
“We do not talk about players that aren’t ours,” he said.
“This question has to be directed to the player, as, when we sign someone, you will be the first to know when we are.”
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