Hazard Nears Chelsea Exit Despite Transfer Ban

By Joshua Walters

Chelsea are reportedly close to losing star man Eden Hazard to Real Madrid as the English club struggles to overturn a two-transfer window ban imposed on it by UEFA.

News in the Spanish media claims Chelsea are willing to allow the Belgian to switch camp to the Spanish club before the expiration of the latter’s contract.

Hazard’s contract with Chelsea runs out in 2020, meaning that the player could leave the Stamford Bridge for free but only if the club can get him to renew his current deal or sell him before then.

Hazard has refused to extend his contract amid speculations that Real Madrid have made him the first player on their wish list, leaving Chelsea in a dilemma as to whether to cash in or allow him to go free after the expiration of his deal.

Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea can sell players but cannot sign any in the next two transfer windows, and speculations are rife that Hazard wants to leave following the side’s inability to get the decision overturned.

Chelsea’s Danish defender Andreas Christensen revealed that the club has already disclosed to the players that they will be keeping hold of all their players following the imposed ban.

“The messages we’ve got are that Chelsea can’t appeal the case and therefore want to keep all the players,” said Christensen, who himself wants to opt out of the club for lack of playing time.

“The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept.”

However, Spanish tabloid, Marca, reports that Hazard perceives that Chelsea would drop in form, following their inability to augment the side, and does not want to be part of a side that cannot fight for the championship.

The Spanish tabloid claims that Chelsea are already fed up trying to convince Hazard to stay and are willing to earn big from the player rather letting him leave on a free transfer on the Bosman ruling in 2020.

Hazard departure might be a good option for the club as it will create room for the in-form Callum Hudson-Odoi to gain a more first-team place and end Bayern Munich's hunt for the youngster.