Another Chelsea star identified as “key” to Eden Hazard move to Real Madrid

Reports in Spain claim that Eden Hazard’s transfer fee will be significantly influenced by Mateo Kovacic, especially now that both Chelsea and Real Madrid differ on their valuation of the Belgium international.

The Croatian midfielder is currently on loan at Chelsea from Madrid and whilst there is a desire for a permanent deal to be constructed, the London club are currently under a transfer ban.

The Blues are appealing the decision to ban them from making any signings for the next two transfer windows and if they are successful they will seek to sign Kovacic permanently.

The 24-year-old has made 42 first-team appearances for the West London club since last summer’s loan deal, but there is no option to buy included in the deal.

Football Espana says, quoting Marca, Los Blancos will pay over €100m for Hazard, but this fee could be reduced to €60m or less should the central midfielder be included in any deal.

“I want to try with Kovacic. He is only on loan, of course. I’d like very much that Kovacic will stay with us,” Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri told reporters earlier this week, reiterating his desire for the player to remain at Stamford Bridge.

Madrid signed the former Dinamo Zagreb midfielder from Italian giants Inter in the summer of 2015 for €30m and are said to want significantly more than that sum in the event of a permanent departure.