Chelsea will not risk losing Antonio Conte by selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer

Wanted man: Real Madrid have made Eden Hazard their top transfer target this summer
Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Simon Johnson30 March 2017

Chelsea have extra motivation not to sell Eden Hazard this summer because they don’t want anything to put contract talks with coach Antonio Conte at risk.

Real Madrid have made Hazard their main transfer target and are confident they can bring the Belgium international to the Bernabeu.

Chelsea don’t have any intention to sell their prized asset but are even more determined to keep him at Stamford Bridge with Conte currently in talks over a new deal.

Conte sees Hazard as a key part of his plans for the team and made that clear when he met the attacking midfielder for the first time 12 months ago. The 26-year-old has thrived under his management, scoring 11 League goals and is a candidate for Player of the Year.

​Conte agreed a three-year contract when he took over last summer but Chelsea want to give him an extension as a reward for a superb first season in English football.

The club look certain to win the Premier League as they boast a 10-point lead, while they are also in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Conte is believed to be keen to sign a longer deal but has been looking for assurances, which have been granted, that he will be backed in the transfer market so that the club can challenge in the Champions League next term, along with the three domestic competitions. The Italian also wants to keep key players like Hazard and significantly told Standard Sport in February that the Belgian had “no price”. Conte is not prepared to sign a new contract until Chelsea have won the title at the earliest and the club don’t want the Hazard speculation to put any doubts in the manager’s mind over the club’s ambition, especially with Inter Milan continuing to pursue him for next season.

While the chance to play for his idol and Real coach Zinedine Zidane has always been a dream, it is believed he has no intention of forcing a move to the La Liga giants. It is understood that Hazard also has concerns over how much he will play, despite Real being prepared to spend a world record £100m for him. He fears he could suffer a similar fate to James Rodriguez, who has struggled since joining Real for £63m in 2014.

The players on Chelsea’s transfer shortlist

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Rodriguez has has made just 53 starts in La Liga in three years. Real want to sell him in order to bring Hazard in but the Belgian is unsure what his role would be with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale still at the club.

Hazard is happy at Chelsea and revealed yesterday he may stay in London when he retires due to family reasons. He said: “My kids are very settled in London so it could be here, that’s a long way off yet so we will see.”

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