Maruizio Sarri on Eden Hazard: Chelsea star in Europe's top three and I will improve him

Maurizio Sarri believes Eden Hazard is one of the top three players in the Europe and hopes to develop the star into an even better player.

Hazard conceded it "might be time" to leave the Blues following Belgium's third-place finish at the World Cup, which ended with a 2-0 victory over England on Saturday.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea in 2012 and has since won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League crowns.

But while the Blues had won the Champions League weeks before Hazard's arrival six years ago, they have since struggled to make their mark on the continent and will again be absent from Europe's leading club competition next term.

The forward has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid, whose former manager Zinedine Zidane was keen on bringing him to Spain before resigning last month.

But Sarri appears intent on persuading Hazard to remain in west London.

"Hazard is a very high-profile players, one of the top two or three in Europe," he said.

"I hope to improve him, which is difficult as he has already reached a very high level."

The Belgium international has two years remaining on his current deal with Chelsea.