Chelsea Powerless As Eden Hazard Confirms Transfer Decision

TONY BANKS

Chelsea are bracing themselves for a future without Eden Hazard after the Belgian revealed he had made up his mind about his future.

For Real Madrid, who have been chasing Hazard for more than three years now, it could be third time lucky in their pursuit of the Belgian this summer.

Hazard said in a documentary to be aired on Wednesday: “I know what I am going to do. I have made a decision.”

The 28 year old has repeatedly refused to commit himself to a new contract at Chelsea with his current deal running out in 2020.

The club offered him a record £300,000-a-week deal last December.

Hazard has told friends that Real is the place he wants to go to at the end of this campaign, though Chelsea insist they are still waiting for a decision from the Belgian.

Chelsea are expected to ask for about £150million for Hazard when Real finally make their offer but it is likely that a final deal will be worth about £100m with the player only having one year left on his contract.

Hazard has scored 16 goals in 31 games for Chelsea this season and has been a key player for Sarri, who took over in the summer – but has also come in for public criticism from the Italian.

Significantly, Chelsea in January signed Borussia Dortmund forward Christian Pusilic in a £58m deal.

That has lined the German up as Hazard’s potential replacement should the moment come when he finally decided on his future, which last night looked to have at last come.

Hazard joined Chelsea in a £32m deal from Lille in 2012 and has been a key component ever since, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League.

Sarri said last week: “Eden is 28. If he wants to go, I think he has to go. Of course, I hope the opposite.

“I hope he wants to stay here. He has the potential to be the best player in Europe at the moment.”

Eden Hazard had previously described a switch Real as a ‘dream’ move, saying last year: “I’m playing good football at the moment.

“Real Madrid are the best club in the world. I don’t want to lie. It is my dream since I was a kid. I was dreaming about this club.

“We will see. I don’t want to talk about this every day, I don’t have time. But we will talk about my future soon.”

Tiemoue Bakayoko, meanwhile, wants to make his stay at Milan permanent after insisting the Italian side are ‘on a different planet’.

The 24-year-old midfielder has finally rediscovered his form and has won over the fans after a rocky start to his loan spell from Chelsea.

He has been farmed out last summer with Maurizio Sarri unimpressed and intent on landing Jorginho.

Bakayoko said: “Things are going well for the club and I right now.

“I just wanted to show that I was good enough for a big club. Milan are on a different planet. Who wouldn’t like to stay at a club like Milan for a long time?”