Chelsea agree £170m deal with Real Madrid for Eden Hazard- Report

Chelsea have reached an initial agreement with Real Madrid to sell Eden Hazard for €190 million (£170m), according to reports in France.

Speaking after Belgium’s World Cup campaign, the 27-year-old indicated that he wants to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and suggested that Madrid remains his preferred destination.

Hazard has just under two years remaining on his contract with Chelsea and has not committed to a new deal with the club. According to Le10 Sport, Madrid have stepped up talks to sign Hazard this week and a ‘first agreement’ has been reached with Chelsea over a £170m deal.

The report claims that the Champions League holders have already held talks with Hazard’s father about the player’s contract and now negotiations have begun with Chelsea. Hazard has expressed his desire to leave Chelsea this summer.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Thursday evening that there will be a meeting between Hazard’s lawyers, player’s father and the Madrid on Saturday. But it’s claimed in Italy that Madrid will offer no more than €125m (£112m) for Hazard. The Belgian’s move to Madrid is also being treated separately to their efforts to sign Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois has less than 12 months left on his contract with Chelsea and is understood to favour a return to Madrid as his two children currently live there.

Barcelona are also in the race to sign Hazard and earlier this week, reports in Spain claimed that the Spanish champions were willing to offer Ousmane Demebele as part of their bid for the Belgian. Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile, has refused to rule out the prospect of keeping Hazard but claimed on Wednesday that he wants to hold face-to-face talks with the player.

‘A telephone call without looking them in the eyes would not give me any certainty,’ said the Chelsea manager.

‘I want to meet them face-to-face and talk to them and see what the best thing to do would be for everybody.

‘Before that I would also like a player to come on the pitch with me for four or five days to get a clear idea of what the picture is.’

Credit: Metro.Co.UK