Eden the escapist: is Hazard set for Spain this summer?

Eden Hazard has thrilled Chelsea fans in an otherwise stagnant season – scoring 16 Premier League goals – but is the mercurial winger set to swap Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid this summer?

The latest came just yesterday evening, when the Belgian fired home a brace to lift the Blues to a 2-0 home victory over London rivals West Ham, compounding his importance to Sarri’s starting lineup.

Hazard has matched his previous-best goal tally in Chelsea shirt of 16 league goals, yet he has also contributed a massive 12 assists for his team-mates, making him the most prolific player for Premier League goal-involvement this season.

⭐️ Eden Hazard has…

👍 Already equalled his best goal tally for Chelsea – 19, level with 14/15
🥅 Been directly involved in more PL goals than any other player this season – 28 (16 goals, 12 assists)

👇 #TuesdayThoughts #TuesdayMotivation #CFC #CHEWHUhttps://t.co/2kMg6dybWB

— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 9, 2019

The 28-year-old’s consistency has attracted attention from abroad this season though and with Real Madrid long-lingering in the background for the Belgian’s services, it looks increasingly likely they will get their man this summer.

Manager Zinedine Zidane’s return to the Bernabeu came with the promise of a war-chest of funds to complete a squad overhaul, with Los Blancos struggling this season since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zidane has long-admired Hazard and is yet to distance himself from the transfer rumours, whilst the lingering issue of Hazard’s contract expiring in 2020 has opened the for Madrid to make their move.

Could Eden Hazard be on his way to Real Madrid?

Zinedine Zidane has always been an admirer…#CFC

⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/nc36foFHzr

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) April 5, 2019

The thought of deploying both Hazard and fellow winger Gareth Bale in a front three with striker Karim Benzema must excite Zidane and provide some much-needed optimism for Madridistas.

Bale has never quite earned the seal of approval from Zidane as he craved since arriving in Spain but his quality cannot be denied, whilst Benzema’s return to form has reportedly seen Madrid bosses shelve their plans for a new striker.

Regardless of fans’ thoughts on the decision, it should free up more of the transfer budget to launch a full-blown attack on Chelsea’s resolve to secure Hazard. It could also lead to further squad additions to rejuvenate a stagnating squad.

With all this in mind, it seems a case of ‘when’ rather than if’ Hazard will depart London for the Bernabeu this summer.

Featured image credit: “Eden Hazard / Эден Азар” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Aleksandr Osipov