Chelsea are set to demand a fee in excess of £100m from Real Madrid for their prized asset, Eden Hazard, as interest from the Spanish giants continues to increase ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports in The Independent.
The Belgian’s contract runs until 2020 with the West London side, and a lack of any public display towards an intention to sign a new, improved contract with the Blues has left the Chelsea hierarchy resigned to selling Hazard in the upcoming window.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has been hoping to conclude the deal for around €100m, as reported by The Independent, but Chelsea are likely to demand a fee exceeding that for their star asset.
Zinedine Zidane was directly asked about Hazard in his weekly press conference, as the hysteria in Spain continues on an upwards trajectory towards the Belgian becoming the latest Galactico and the first of the reborn era under Zidane.
Hazard has been central to Chelsea’s success in the current campaign, playing a vital role in taking the Blues to 5th in the league on 63 points and into the quarter-finals of the Europa League where they fill face Slavia Praha for a place in the semi-finals.
Chelsea next host West Ham on Monday in the Premier League, with Maurizio Sarri having spoken out in his pre-match press conference in defence of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who this week was revealed to have not bought corporate hospitality at Stamford Bridge for the first time in nearly a decade.
