Eden Hazard to Real Madrid? Why the Liga giants are unlikely to move for the Chelsea star

Staying put: Eden Hazard
AFP/Getty Images
Standard Sport22 August 2018

Real Madrid are again being linked with a bid for Eden Hazard despite Chelsea previously refusing to sell their star man earlier in the window.

The Premier League window shut almost two weeks ago, but Spanish clubs stuck with the traditional end-of-August closing date so still have nine days left to buy, sell, loan and lend.

Real Madrid tried and failed with a bid for target Hazard - who has made no secret of his willingness to leave Stamford Bridge - while Chelsea were able to sign a replacement.

In his feature 'Why Real Madrid are not desperate to replace Ronaldo' , our Spanish football expert Ben Hayward wrote: "Hazard had looked like a more attainable alternative to Kylian Mbappe and Neymar and he hinted that he was keen on a Madrid move after helping Belgium secure third place at the World Cup.

"However, Real are reluctant to pay over the odds for a player who is neither a prolific scorer, nor their first choice to replace Ronaldo, while they are aware that securing both Hazard and Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea will be all but impossible this summer."

Real Madrid did land Courtois before the English window closed but now Chelsea's hands are tied.

While it is understood that Chelsea would have listened to offers above a certain figure for the Belgian, only a fee close to the world-record sum paid for Neymar 12 months ago could tempt the Blues now and Real Madrid will not commit such funds to the player.

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