With reports of Real Madrid’s interest in Eden Hazard escalating, both Belgian newspaper HLN and England’s The Times say Chelsea value their star at €225 million, or £200m. Those numbers would eclipse the world-record €222m (£198m) fee that Paris Saint-Germain paid to land Neymar from Barcelona last summer. So if Real Madrid want to replace Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, they might have to spend more than double what they got for him from Juventus.
HLN also reported Real Madrid are hoping that Chelsea could lower their asking price on goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to about €30m-35m. But that could prove a longshot with the Belgian having just won the Golden Glove at the World Cup, which could actually raise his price. As far as Chelsea are concerned, sources have told ESPN FC’s Liam Twomey that the club are not overly worried by Hazard’s recent hints at an exit, and still look forward to new contract talks. But amid all this, Belgium manager Roberto Martinez told Cadena Ser that “It could be the best time [for Hazard] to try something different.”