Chelsea insist Hazard is not for sale

LONDON: CHELSEA have grown in confidence that Eden Hazard will not try to force a transfer to Real Madrid this summer as they insist he is going nowhere.

New boss Maurizio Sarri is making plans for the upcoming season and is working on the basis that the Belgian will stay put, despite interest from Real.

Though Hazard has refused to sign a new £300,000-a-week contract (RM1.6 million) at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea do not believe he will demand a move to the Bernabeu. Blues insiders insist they will not entertain offers for their superstar regardless, even if Real do bid £150million (RM800 million) following their £99.2 million (RM529 million) sale of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hazard hinted he would be open to a move during the World Cup but Chelsea are not overly concerned, with him contracted until 2020.

It means there is no imminent risk of a saga similar to Arsenal's with Alexis Sanchez last season.

The summer of 2019 will present new problems, should Hazard continue to turn down doing a new deal, but Chelsea are focusing on this season first.

They do not want lose their main man so soon into Sarri's reign following the sacking of Antonio Conte.

Hazard is not with the squad for pre-season in Australia as he continues to holiday in Spain following the World Cup in Russia.