Masterful Hazard hits remarkable double to fire Chelsea into third

Hazard 24, 90 the sort of display that could convince Real Madrid to meet Chelsea’s reported £100 million asking price.

The 28-year-old’s current Chelsea deal expires next summer and Madrid are reported to be closing in on his signature, although not without matching the Stamford Bridge hierarchy’s valuation.

Hazard, pictured, moved to 19 goals in all competitions as he eyes the 20 mark for the first time at Chelsea. His 16 league goals leave him top of the pile for combined finishes and assists, with 28.

By the time Hazard applied the finish to his stunning opener, he had ghosted past Declan Rice and Mark Noble,andflummoxed Fabian Balbuena, Angelo Ogbonna and Ryan Fredericks. At the death, after Chelsea had wasted a succession of chances, up popped Hazard again, drilling home to seal the win.

Hazard’s masterful

first strike not only lit up the match, it also kept Chelsea in the hunt for that all-important top-four finish.

Maurizio Sarri’s men moved two points ahead of fourthplaced Tottenham and three above Arsenal in fifth, albeit having played one more game than their Champions League qualification rivals.

From the moment Ogbonna was booked for taking out the marauding Hazard just eight minutes in, West Ham’s rearguard knew they were in for a night of looking over their shoulders, but while the home side spurned numerous opportunities, Hazard showed his team-mates how to score, book-ending a night that had belonged to him from start to finish.