Madrid plan RM1billion attack for Hazard

REAL MADRID are refusing to admit defeat in their £200million (RM1.04b) hunt of Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard.

New Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is adamant that the club will resist any offers for Hazard before the European transfer window closes.

But Real’s power-brokers are desperate for Hazard to replace superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus last month.

Now Real are set to up their £150m (RM782m) valuation closer to the £200m that Chelsea have placed on his head.

Hazard – who is stalling on signing a new £300,000 a week deal – is not openly pushing to leave and has spoken to boss Sarri since returning from his break after the World Cup.

Chelsea recently sold Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in a deal worth £35m (RM182m) and the 26-year-old has spoken about relationship with Hazard.

“Hazard has congratulated me on signing for Real Madrid,” said Belgian goalkeeper.

“He is a great player and I would like to be always at his side, let’s see what happens in the future. If he can come (to Real Madrid), it would be fantastic.”

But Sarri is adamant that Hazard is happy to remain at Stamford Bridge.

“Hazard is with us,” Sarri told reporters.

“It is not a problem, I have spoken with his three or four times. He never said anything about the market.”

But Real’s top brass will meet this week with a view to making one last big money bid to lure Hazard to Spain before the August 31 deadline.

As for the Blues, they started their Premier League campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Huddersfield on Saturday. – Express Newspapers