Chelsea transfer news: Eden Hazard has been linked with a move away from the club When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. That is the opinion of ESPN FC pundit and former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson. Hazard has been constantly linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent transfer windows and this has been no different. Real Madrid have been the club most rumoured to be keen on signing the 27-year-old. Chelsea’s managerial situation is still up in the air, with Antonio Conte returning for pre-season training despite him expected to leave the club. Former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri looks set to take over at Stamford Bridge.<doc-sep>Eden Hazard is wanted by both Real Madrid and Barcelona (Picture: Getty) Eden Hazard is ready to leave Chelsea and already preparing for a transfer to Real Madrid according to Brian Laudrup. The Belgium international has emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, whose transfer to Juventus was confirmed earlier this week, at the Bernabeu. Chelsea are still said to be hopeful their new manager Maurizio Sarri can convince Hazard to commit the peak years of his career to the west London club with a £300,000-a-week contract offer still on the table. The Telegraph reports that if Chelsea are unsuccessful in convincing Hazard to extend his six-year stay in west London they will demand around £200million for the 27-year-old. Chelsea are still hopeful new manager Maurizio Sarri can convince Eden Hazard to stay (Picture: Getty) It appears, however, that the FA Cup holders are fighting a losing battle and Laudrup, who spent just one season at Stamford Bridge, revealed Hazard’s heart is set on a move to the Spanish capital. ‘I spoke to Eden Hazard a few days ago, he is preparing for a move to Real Madrid and it is a good move both for him and for Real,’ he told Sportske Novosti. ‘Again in Russia, he proved how good he is.’ Hazard could yet feature in Belgium’s third place play-off match against England on Saturday and his international manager Roberto Martinez believes he is good enough to play for one of the world’s top teams. Real Madrid are looking to make a Galactico signing to replace Cristiano Ronaldo (Picture: Getty) ‘Eden is one of the most complete players in modern football,’ he said. ‘There aren’t many players better than him in one-on-one situations, as he can dismantle a defence with a single action, but he also has a good personality and is a leader. ‘He is a team player, with a great winning mentality and you can really create a winning team around him. ‘He can play for any of the best clubs in the world.’<doc-sep>Antonio Conte reflects on Chelsea achievements HERE for the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. It has become the most bizarre managerial saga of the summer. He knew what was coming. Everyone knew what was coming. But he has still been taking training sessions with his Chelsea players. That is until director Bruce Buck arrived yesterday with confirmation of his departure. And finally, Maurizio Sarri, who led Napoli to two second place Serie A finishes in his three years, is able to be brought in as his replacement. Antonio Conte, a ball of fiery energy on the touchline, was an affable and engaging character and unquestionably a great coach. He transformed Chelsea in his first season into a title-winning side playing excellent football and using innovative tactics. Behind the scenes, though, he was a spiky, aggressive figure, surrounded by his Italian coaching clan who increasingly fell out with senior figures at the club. So the second season was significantly less happy. Yesterday’s departure was on the cards ever since the Italian signed a new contract that gave him a rise but no extension to his deal after winning the title in the summer of 2017. Chelsea stars Hazard and Courtois could stay now Conte is gone, with Sarri to arrive Chelsea sacked Antonio Conte despite him winning the FA Cup in May Hazard and Courtois alienated Conte caused alarm by telling striker Diego Costa by text message that he was not part of his plans and then began a year-long war of words with the board over the lack of signings the manager insisted he needed. What followed was a troubled campaign that saw key players such as David Luiz, Willian and Eden Hazard alienated. Chelsea could only finish fifth but the cup was lifted. Conte wanted out, according to friends in Italy, many of his squad wanted him gone and many at the club were tired of the black moods and rows. But matters took so long to resolve that Conte, refusing to walk, drew up the pre-season training plans while on holiday and arrived back in England at the weekend to begin putting them into place with what remained of his squad who were not at the World Cup. Eden Hazard is flirting with a move away from Chelsea Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has refused to sign a new contract players such as Hazard and Thibaut Courtois … were likely to move on Conte's intentions What worried the club and finally pressed owner Roman Abramovich into meeting Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis this week to push the deal along was that Conte fully intended to see out the final year of his contract if no agreement was made – and that would have meant players such as Hazard and Thibaut Courtois, both yet to sign new deals, were likely to move on. In the wake of Chelsea’s FA Cup win, Willian obscured Conte in a celebration photograph posted on Instagram. Yesterday, Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas ‘liked’ a Tweet celebrating Conte’s departure, though later claimed it was a mistake. Chelsea hoped that another club might attempt to buy Conte out of the final year of his deal, but possible openings at Paris Saint-Germain and Italy never materialised. The 48 year old is now ready to take a year off, if necessary. Sarri arrives as a former banker who had a spell working in London so speaks good English, who only took up full-time coaching at the age of 40 in 1999. He has never won a major trophy but earned plaudits for his football at a series of minor clubs in Italy and at Empoli and then Napoli. With him will arrive the Italy midfielder Jorginho, who flew into London last night to have a medical on a deal that, combined with the fee that Chelsea will have to pay Napoli for Sarri’s release, will be worth about £57.5million. No Napoli raid It is understood that another part of the deal with De Laurentiis that has taken almost two months to work out, is that Sarri and Chelsea will not be allowed to go back and raid his former club for any more players, in particular full-back Elseid Hysaj. It was in fact Chelsea’s decision to move in ahead of Manchester City to sign Jorginho that was the key to unlocking the deal to get Sarri out of the Neapolitan club, where he had already been replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, but still had two years of his £1.2m-a-year deal remaining. That deal, still being finalised by lawyers on both sides last night in Italy, plus the negotiations to pay off Conte with the full year’s worth of contract that he has demanded – the full £9.5m – took this long to sort out. It sounds a mess. But with Chelsea these days, does anyone really expect any different? Chelsea transfer news: How Maurizio Sarri could line up in 2018/19 Thu, July 12, 2018 Chelsea are edging closer to replacing Antonio Conte with Maurizio Sarri – but what could his dream team look like? Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 12 How could Chelsea line up under Maurizio Sarri next season?<doc-sep>Hot on the heels of reports that Antonio Conte has been sacked by Chelsea comes news of another possible departure from Stamford Bridge. Spanish publication Sport reports that Barcelona have made the acquisition of Eden Hazard their "main objective" for the summer. It's said that contact was made with representatives of Hazard last week and that the response regarding the move was positive. The 27-year-old apparently wants to leave Chelsea. Barcelona have turned to Hazard as an option after Antoine Griezmann decided that he will remain at Atletico Madrid. It had appeared to be a given that the French international would move to the Camp Nou. Money is being freed up for the Hazard deal by the offloading of unwanted players. Paulinho leaving on loan back to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande is the first of those to go. Advertisement Hazard's current deal with Chelsea runs out in 2020. The Belgian said earlier this summer that he was delaying a decision on signing a new and improved deal with the club, stating that the quality of Chelsea's summer signings would be a major factor in whether or not he puts pen to paper. Sky Sports have reported today that Barcelona have also made a second bid for another Chelsea player - Willian. £53 million is the amount mentioned. Napoli's Maurizio Sarri is expected to be announced as Conte's replacement this week. Picture credit: Shutterstock.com<doc-sep>
EDEN HAZARD will leave Chelsea to join Real Madrid, according to ex-Blues star Brian Laudrup. The Galacticos sent shockwaves around the world when they sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus this week for £88million. 4 Eden Hazard is preparing for a move to Real Madrid Credit: Reuters A number of players have been linked with filling the huge void left by the Portuguese ace. But Laudrup insists it will be the 27-year-old Belgian attacker who will be heading to the Spanish capital from the Premier League after his outstanding performances at the World Cup. He told Sportske Novosti: “I spoke to Eden Hazard a few days ago, he is preparing for a move to Real Madrid and it is a good move both for him and for Real. “Again in Russia, he proved how good he is.” Eden Hazard bizarrely interviewed on Belgium TV by hologram ahead of France clash 4 Laudrup with French hero Christian Karembeu at the World Cup Credit: Getty - Contributor 4 Former Chelsea star Brian Laudrup claims the Belgian told him he would be heading to the Bernabeu Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 4 Hazard has been linked with a move to Madrid for months Credit: Reuters Hazard has done little to stop the speculation over his future and hinted a move to Madrid would be of interest to him. He told beIN SPORTS last month: “I think Real is everyone's dream. For now, it's the World Cup. “As I have said at least 100 times, I am at Chelsea and for the moment nobody has made me an offer.” The Belgian’s situation at Stamford Bridge has been complicated for months with his relationship with Antonio Conte believed to be strained. LATEST WORLD CUP 2018 NEWS WHAT A JEN How old is Jermaine Jenas and what's his net worth? MEDALS 1 CAPS 0 Stars who won World Cup without playing a single game, like Fulham's Areola HORROR ORDEAL Brit gang-rape victims bravely fought off attacker by biting him, say cops RU BEAUTY Who is Ruby Mae and how long has she been with Dele Alli? PRETTY WOMAN Amanda Holden spotted in £85 Forever Unique 'Pretty Woman' dress Cheap as kits Here's where you can get England's 2018 football kit the cheapest But the Italian’s reign at Chelsea was finally ended on Friday when he was sacked four days after beginning pre-season training with the team. Former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri has been unveiled as his replacement today, signing a three-year contract. And his former Napoli midfielder Jorghino became the second new arrival at the Bridge today, joining in a deal worth up to £57million. It remains to be seen whether their arrivals will help to keep Hazard at the FA Cup winners.