Liverpool Force Real Madrid To Change Plans For Hazard

JACK OTWAY

Liverpool have inadvertently forced Real Madrid to change their plans to announce the signing of Eden Hazard from Chelsea, according to reports.

Liverpool are set for a relaxed summer after a phenomenal Premier League campaign but, over at Chelsea, and the same calmness is not expected.

Express Sport understands the Blues are primed to lose the services of talisman Hazard, who is top of Real Madrid’s transfer wishlist.

Los Blancos want the Belgium international to be their marquee signing of the summer and a direct replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus a year ago. And L’Equipe say that Liverpool, inadvertently, have now forced Real to change their plans for an announcement.

It is said they initially wanted to unveil Hazard on June 2 – the day after the Champions League final. And that was because they expected Barcelona to be involved.

The Catalan giants beat Liverpool 3-0 at the Nou Camp at the beginning of the month in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. And few expected the Reds to progress in the aftermath of their Catalonian disaster.

However, Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 in the return fixture at Anfield to make the final for the second year on the trot.

And, now, L’Equipe say Real are not in as much of a hurry to announce Hazard’s signing from Chelsea.

Had Barcelona won the Champions League, Zinedine Zidane’s side would have wanted to upstage their rivals.

The unveiling of the Belgian would also have been great for morale on what would have been a testing day. But now, Real have changed their plans.

And that’s all because of Liverpool, who will face off against Premier League rivals Tottenham on June 1.

Meanwhile, former Chelsea star Kenny Swain believes Hazard will accept a move to Real if they come calling.

“I think if all the talk about Real Madrid is true then you have to understand that going to places like Real Madrid with all that they stand for is an opportunity which is very, very difficult to turn down,” Swain told Love Sport Radio.

“I can’t think of a footballer from an English club who has ever turned down such an opportunity, if that exists.”