Chelsea bracing themselves for Real Madrid offer for Hazard

Chelsea are concerned that Real Madrid’s first offer may be enough to prise Eden Hazard away from the club, claims The Daily Telegraph.

Hazard will only have 12 months left to run on his current Chelsea deal at the end of the season and is stalling on signing a new contract in order to secure a dream move to Madrid.

The Spanish giants baulked at Chelsea’s £200m asking price last summer but are expected to renew their interest in Hazard this summer.

Chelsea will hope to fetch £100m for Hazard if they are forced to sell at the end of the season but are worried that even if Madrid bid lower than that then the Belgian will ask to leave.

Hazard has developed into one the Premier League’s best players since joining Chelsea from Lille in the summer of 2012 and it would be a huge blow if the Blues lose him.

Maurizio Sarri has potentially damaged Chelsea’s chances of keeping Hazard after questioning his ability to be a leader in the build up to Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham. You can use aceodds.com for the latest odds and offers on Chelsea's clash with Tottenham.

It was suggested last summer that Sarri would make Hazard club captain in a bid to convince the 28-year-old to stay at the club but that now seems the last thing on the Italian’s mind.

Hazard is the highest WhoScored rated player in the Premier League this season (7.75) and the only player in England’s top-flight to register double figures for goals and assists.