Paris Saint-Germain will battle it out with Spanish giants Real Madrid next summer to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea.
The
mega-wealthy French club, who bought defender David Luiz from Chelsea
in the summer of 2014, believe they can convince Hazard to return to
France where he previously played for Lille.
PSG
paid Chelsea just under £50million for Luiz, but it will take a
substantial uplift - probably £80m or more - if Hazard decides to move
on at the end of the season.
Eden Hazard will be the subject of interest from Real Madrid
and Paris Saint-Germain this summer
Hazard pulled on a PSG shirt after Chelsea's
Champions League clash in the French
capital in 2014
Chelsea's star man has struggled to replicate his
form of last season with under-fire boss Jose Mourinho
Chelsea will resist any attempts to take their best player
but bids of up to £80million will put down a marker
Chelsea
will resist any attempt to prise the PFA Player of the Year away from
Stamford Bridge, but the French champions have put down a marker for the
winger.
Hazard
signed a new five-year contract last season, but Chelsea's disastrous
start to the season under Jose Mourinho has made him think seriously
about his future.
The
Belgian forward is regarded as one of the most talented players in
world football and PSG now believe they are at the front of the queue
for him.
Although
Hazard has made no secret of his admiration for Real Madrid, the team
he supported as a boy, the French club are one for the emerging forces
in European football.
Zinedine
Zidane, now in charge of Real Madrid Castilla, was one of Hazard's
childhood idols and it was thought his presence at the Santiago Bernabeu
would sway him towards Spain.
Hazard would not be the first to move from PSG to Chelsea:
David Luiz made the switch in 2014
Zinedine Zidane was one of Hazard's childhood idols and
his Real Madrid links could be a factor
It
has now emerged that PSG are serious competitors for Hazard and they
will take advantage of the situation at Chelsea if he cannot be
convinced to remain in London beyond the summer.
PSG have won Ligue 1 for the past three seasons under the management of Carlo Ancelotti and former France manager Laurent Blanc.
They
reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season before
the were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by the eventual winners Barcelona.
Laurent Blanc will be handed a big summer budget once
again if it becomes clear that Hazard would move
The in-demand winger would be making a return to
Ligue 1, having played with Lille before his Chelsea move
Although
there has already been huge investment in the team by the club's
mega-wealthy Qatari owners, they will provide substantial funds next
summer to make a bid for Hazard.
The
former Lille winger, 24, has become frustrated with his role in the
team and he has been dropped by Jose Mourinho several times because of a
loss of form and focus.
This
week it also emerged that Hazard could be called as a witness at Eva
Carneiro's employment tribunal against Chelsea, which is likely to take
place next year.
Hazard could be called as a witness at Eva Carneiro's
employment tribunal against Chelsea next year
The Blues will reignite their pursuit of Everton
defender John Stones and want a goalscoring fix too
Hazard
was the player who went down injured during the chaotic 2-2 draw with
Swansea City on August 8 at Stamford Bridge and is the only person who
can confirm whether or not he asked referee Michael Oliver for
treatment.
Chelsea
are more concerned for now with bringing players in and owner Roman
Abramovich is prepared to bankroll a January spending spree to rescue
the club's ailing Champions League qualification bid.
The
Blues will reignite their pursuit of Everton defender John Stones and
want a short-term fix to their goalscoring problems as Diego Costa,
Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy toil in front of goal.
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