Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia faces biggest challenge yet over Eden Hazard future

Read James Olley's weekly column in the Evening Standard and online
Star man: Eden Hazard
REUTERS
James Olley10 October 2018

There was a time when Marina Granovskaia was responsible for organising Roman Abramovich’s restaurant reservations.

It is 21 years since the Moscow State University graduate got her first job working for Abramovich, at his Sibneft oil company. She moved to London shortly after the Russian bought Chelsea in 2003 and has quietly assumed central importance in the club’s day-to-day running.

Michael Emenalo’s departure as technical director last November and Abramovich’s subsequent visa issues have only strengthened Granovskaia’s position of late, now widely considered the club’s key figure in player transfers and contract negotiations.

The 43-year-old director’s finest achievements include playing a key role in securing a £900million kit deal with Nike in 2016, then the third biggest agreement of its type in the world, while the appointment of Maurizio Sarri is threatening to exceed expectations after a hugely promising start to the campaign.

But she appears to face arguably her biggest challenge yet in resolving Eden Hazard’s situation to Chelsea’s satisfaction.

Hazard is shrewd enough to understand the conventional sports news cycle and once again he set the agenda this week with a timely post-match interview first reported in these pages on Monday, simultaneously reiterating both his dream to play for Real Madrid and genuine affection for Chelsea.

It is not the first time. This column discussed in August how Hazard spoke his mind along with Thibaut Courtois in the wake of Belgium’s World Cup campaign over whether to stay at Stamford Bridge moments before going on holiday, all of which left the club on the back foot.

That same column concluded by citing the need for Sarri to convince Hazard it was in his best interests to deliver for Chelsea come what may in the next 12 months and for the player to knuckle down and produce the consistency he has often lacked.

Both deserve credit for doing just that. Sarri had precious little time to work with his players in pre-season — and lost Courtois to Real Madrid — but they enter this second international break of the campaign behind Manchester City only on goal difference in the Premier League.

In Pictures | Southampton vs Chelsea | 07/10/2018

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Hazard has played in all eight League games, scoring seven goals and providing three assists. Of the 14 League goals the Blues have scored with Hazard on the pitch, the 27-year-old has had a hand in 10. He is, quite simply, the standout player of the season to date.

Hazard was doing his talking on the pitch in the most effective way possible. And yet he still felt the need to tell reporters after Sunday’s win at Southampton about how he remains torn over where he wants to play his football.

But Hazard’s flirtation with Real is nothing new and the only real effect here is to highlight the lack of progress Chelsea have made over a contract saga which has dragged on for months.

It is believed the Blues last made an offer to Hazard in December worth £300,000 a week.

At the time, that figure would have made him the highest-paid player in the League but since then Mesut Ozil has signed an agreement worth £350,000 a week at Arsenal and Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United for anything up to £505,000 a week.

Hazard is therefore entitled to ask for more money, given the market rate. There is also an honest battle for heart and mind, as Hazard alluded to, complicated by Real’s reluctance to table a formal offer in a bid to land a player they have long been linked with.

Impressive form: Hazard is the Premier League's leading scorer
REUTERS

So, what does Granovskaia do? Selling in January is not a feasible option unless Hazard decides to try to force through a move.

Chelsea would struggle to sign a replacement of similar quality mid-season and whatever decrease in transfer fee there is by waiting until next summer, it would be offset by the potential loss of income resulting from missing out on Champions League football by allowing your best player to leave halfway through the campaign.

Eliciting a bid from Real may not be easy, especially if they have reservations about whether a player turning 28 in January is worth the hassle, but forcing their hand would bring some clarity.

If the Blues really want to tie him down, Granovskaia has to find a way of increasing the offer to Hazard. Perhaps any fresh deal could include a Real-specific release clause to ensure he always has the option of leaving should he change his mind but the club can fix a fair market price in advance to insure themselves against his loss.

Otherwise the situation will continue to drift, Hazard will continue to talk and the clamour for Granovskaia to act decisively will grow ever louder.

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