ED MASTER
It’s captain Hazard in bid to keep him at Bridge
MAURIZIO SARRI is ready to make Eden Hazard his captain in an attempt to keep him at Chelsea.
Hazard remains a £180m target for Real Madrid but the Blues are determined not to sell.
And Sarri feels handing Hazard the armband, ahead of current skipper Gary Cahill, may persuade the playmaker to stay and sign the contract extension he’s been offered.
New Stamford Bridge boss Sarri, who has only been working with his squad for just over a week, has not yet made the final decision over his captain.
But Hazard, Belgium skipper at the World Cup, is ahead of defender Cesar Azpilicueta and midfielder Cesc Fabregas on his list.
Sarri met owner Roman Abramovich and director Marina Granovskaia here in
Nice last night to discuss their transfer targets.
Chelsea have been told by Juventus they must pay £45m for defender
Daniele Rugani. An opening offer of
around £40m was rejected in discussions between Granovskaia and Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici in Italy on Thursday, although a deal could be sealed this weekend.
Rugani’s agent David Torchia said: “Chelsea like Rugani and have made an important offer. Juve are aware of the interest but for now they don’t want to sell.
“But we know everything has a price.
“Rugani is a defender that would make Chelsea’s manager happy.”
The Blues also fancy £58m-rated Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain but want the Rugani deal sealed first. AC Milan are also in for the Argentina hitman.
The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin has led to Juve rethinking their options, throwing Higuain’s future into doubt.
Juve general manager Beppe Marotta said: “He is still an important player for us.
“But now, obviously, we have greater competition (up front). We are evaluating his future.”
Chelsea are also close to a deal for Brazil winger Bernard, who is a free agent after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Blues could make room in their squad by selling striker Michy Batshuayi to Valencia.