ANTONIO CONTE has told Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich he does not Eden Hazard to be sold.
By TONY BANKS
According to sources at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid are planning a world-record £100million bid for Eden Hazard and have made him their main transfer target for the summer, even planning to offer players in exchange for the 26-year-old.
Chelsea have not yet received an offer for the player, who is happy in London and at the moment has no plans to leave Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte is adamant he wants Hazard to stay – and with the Chelsea board in the midst of talks over a new contract for the Italian which would put him level in the Premier League managerial pay stakes with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, they do not want to jeopardise their chances of a successful outcome.
One of the key factors in the negotiations for Conte is not wages but assurances that he will be given the funds to strengthen a side already firm favourites to win the title – and keep the players he has.
The Italian, whose side go into tomorrow’s (3pm) home clash with Crystal Palace 10 points clear at the top of the table with just 10 games, regards this season as only the first stage of his project, and intends to build on what he has achieved so far this term.
And earlier this season Conte made it clear how highly he rates star man Hazard - and does not want to sell him.
“Is he priceless to Chelsea? I think Eden is for sure a great player, a top player,” Conte said.
“He is at a very high level. But I don’t see the problem because we don’t want to sell him. He hasn’t got a price now.”
And Hazard has suggested he could stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career, revealing his wife and their three children are happy in the capital.
When asked where he could live in retirement, Hazard replied: "I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Maybe I will live in Belgium, to be close to the family, or else I could go somewhere with nice weather.
"My kids are very settled in London so it could be here, that’s a long way off yet so we will see."
Hazard has returned to training after a calf problem but is not expected to be risked against Palace, with a crucial home clash against rival Manchester City looming on Wednesday.
By TONY BANKS
Chelsea have not yet received an offer for the player, who is happy in London and at the moment has no plans to leave Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte is adamant he wants Hazard to stay – and with the Chelsea board in the midst of talks over a new contract for the Italian which would put him level in the Premier League managerial pay stakes with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, they do not want to jeopardise their chances of a successful outcome.
One of the key factors in the negotiations for Conte is not wages but assurances that he will be given the funds to strengthen a side already firm favourites to win the title – and keep the players he has.
The Italian, whose side go into tomorrow’s (3pm) home clash with Crystal Palace 10 points clear at the top of the table with just 10 games, regards this season as only the first stage of his project, and intends to build on what he has achieved so far this term.
“Is he priceless to Chelsea? I think Eden is for sure a great player, a top player,” Conte said.
“He is at a very high level. But I don’t see the problem because we don’t want to sell him. He hasn’t got a price now.”
And Hazard has suggested he could stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career, revealing his wife and their three children are happy in the capital.
When asked where he could live in retirement, Hazard replied: "I don’t know, it’s hard to say. Maybe I will live in Belgium, to be close to the family, or else I could go somewhere with nice weather.
"My kids are very settled in London so it could be here, that’s a long way off yet so we will see."
Hazard has returned to training after a calf problem but is not expected to be risked against Palace, with a crucial home clash against rival Manchester City looming on Wednesday.
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