Chelsea will soon have a big decision to make on Eden Hazard if he does not sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
As things stand, the Belgian has a year and a half to run on his current deal before he becomes a free agent, with a cut-price exit becoming more likely with every passing week until then.
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The Telegraph suggest some planning is in place for Hazard’s potential exit, with the club ready to set an asking price of £100million for him this summer to scare off Real Madrid.
Still, despite the tough talk, Chelsea’s negotiating position is going to get a lot weaker very soon if the 28-year-old doesn’t sign on the dotted line – which is why even this latest rumour from Don Balon is one that shouldn’t be shrugged off too easily.
The Spanish news source – with a questionable record on these things, to put it mildly – claim Real Madrid are currently trying to offload Isco in a swap deal for either Hazard or Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.
While they’re most likely jumping the gun at the moment, this is a deal that could make sense for the Spanish giants in the near future – and one Chelsea must not give in to.
Isco has had his problems at Real Madrid this season, barely featuring since Santiago Solari took over, with big question-marks over his professionalism and attitude.
While it’s tempting to think of the Spaniard as a like-for-like replacement for Hazard, the truth is he’s nowhere near.
Once considered a real wonderkid at previous club Malaga, Isco has not lived up to his potential at Real Madrid, failing to nail down a set role in the side.
It is therefore understandable that Real hope clubs will be blinded by his slightly more generous reputation abroad, and would try to use him to get players’ prices down.
Chelsea, however, should not be in a position where we’re allowing ourselves to be duped into snapping up other clubs’ rejects – accepting £100m, or even £30m or so less for Hazard and signing a replacement of our own choosing would be by far the more sensible option.
