Chelsea yet to formally offer Eden Hazard new contract despite father's insistence he had already rejected one

In an interview with a Belgian newspaper, Hazard's father said there was no contact from Real Madrid yet

Hazard's father claimed a contract extension had been rejected

Eden Hazard has had initial talks with Chelsea about a new contract, although no formal offer is expected for some time, and there is a “relaxation” on all sides despite his father’s comments about rejecting an extension early on Friday.

Thierry Hazard had told Belgian paper Le Soir that the 26-year-old had turned down an offer because he wants to eventually go to Real Madrid. The Independent has been told that no offer has yet been made and while Hazard is obviously tempted by the Bernabeu, the situation isn’t quite so clean cut.

Hazard would clearly be open to an offer, but it is understand he would be most engaged by the opportunity to work with one of his heroes in Zinedine Zidane, above even playing for Real. Since his current deal runs until 2020, and there is already so much uncertainty about Zidane’s medium-term future despite winning successive Champions Leagues, the Belgian and his camp are aware not to get too attached to such an idea. They are also conscious of the fact that – as with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – Real have made their interest known on repeated occasions in the past, only to then pursue other targets with much more vigour.

That is why there is no real urgency on either side, Hazard’s or Chelsea’s, although there have been talks and they are expected to increase in intensity over the next few months. A proper concrete offer from Real could alter the situation in the short term, however. Stamford Bridge boss Antonio Conte had said that it was up to the board to address the situation, as he stressed he would always want to keep Hazard – but reiterated that the star needs to up his goal return to really fulfil his potential and get to the level of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“He could score more,” the Italian said at his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s home match with Stoke City on Saturday. “If you see the stats, you understand that he can score more goals. That is an aspect he can improve.

“When you are a striker, or a No 10, your speciality must be to score. I think in this aspect he has a lot of space for improvement. But don’t forget he’s younger than these two players [Ronaldo and Messi] you named.”

Conte deflected questions on the comments by Hazard’s father, stating he hadn’t seen them, but stated again it is an issue for the board.

“I repeat, if you are in a great club and you trust in the club and the ambition of the club, I think it’s right to stay.”

“I must be honest, I didn’t read the comments from his father today. But the father spoke in the newspaper? Okay. I think, in the world, everyone has to respect the opinion of everyone else. In this case, I have to respect the opinion. I repeat, I didn’t read this. But I think we are talking about a really good guy, and it’s normal – I repeat – if you think that you stay in a great club with great ambition, it’s right to stay. Otherwise, everyone has to give a different opinion.

“Now I think this is not the right moment, and also I think this question is not for me but for the club. Not for me. These are private conversations that the player, the agent of the player must have with the club.”