CRUNCH TIME FOR EDEN DEAL

EDEN HAZARD is set for crucial talks with Maurizio Sarri this week when he returns to pre-season at Chelsea. The Belgian sparked fears he wanted away during the World Cup when he said of his club future: “It might be time to discover something different.” And he and his representatives have done little to put out the fire since then, with Real Madrid keen to sign him as Cristiano Ronaldo’s replacement.

Hazard was due back today, but in a phone call to Sarri on Thursday he was given permission to return tomorrow.

Sarri said: “I talked with him, but we didn’t talk about his future. We talked only about, ‘Can I arrive on Monday instead of Sunday?’ At this moment there is no problem for Hazard.”

But talks are planned, with Sarri confirming at his unveiling press conference last month that he would wait for Hazard and his compatriot Thibaut Courtois to finish their holidays before speaking to them in person. The Italian said last month: “The players you are referring to are very high-level players and I would like to keep them in my squad.

“But a telephone call without looking them in the eye will not give me any certainty.

“I want to meet them face-toface to understand what the best thing is to do for everyone.”