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Eden Hazard wants to live near TWO Real Madrid stars: Chelsea to agree deal soon - Laurens
CHELSEA will agree a deal that sees Eden Hazard move to Real Madrid “very quickly”, claims European football expert Julien Laurens.
Eden Hazard looking at houses in Madrid claims Laurens
Hazard is out of contract at Chelsea in 2020 and many feel the Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday was his last appearance at Stamford Bridge for the Blues.
The Belgium international has previously stated his desire to one day play for La Liga giants Real Madrid and under manager Zinedine Zidane.
Laurens has reiterated reports from earlier this week that Eden Hazard has started house-hunting in Madrid.
And he claims the 28-year-old wants to live near Real’s Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema when he moves to the Spanish capital.
I don’t think the saga will last very long though, I think the two clubs will find an agreement very quickly
“[Chelsea are] not trying to budge [from their £100million valuation] because they also know Eden Hazard is out of contract in a year’s time,” Laurens told ESPN FC.
“You can’t ask for too much money when a player will be potentially available for free in the next 12 months.
“So it will be a bit of a poker game between Real Madrid and Chelsea.
“Real Madrid feel in a strong position to try to lower the price down.
“Chelsea in a way feel they are in a strong position because they know that Hazard and Real Madrid already have an agreement, that Hazard is desperate to join Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.
“So they feel they are in some position because they can almost put their price and Real Madrid will have to pay it, so it’s going to be interesting.
“I don’t think the saga will last very long though, I think the two clubs will find an agreement very quickly.
“Hazard and his wife, Natacha, are already looking at houses in Madrid and what school they’re putting their three children into, the international school probably, and living not too far from Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema.
“So everything is pretty much all in place, it’s just about the transfer fee and the bonuses and the structure of the deal.
“Chelsea want as much money as possible for someone who is free in 12 months.
“And Real Madrid want to play as less as possible for someone who is free in 12 months.”