Eden Hazard to Real Madrid: Chelsea braced for 'James Rodriguez swap deal'

The Spanish giants have long been admirers of Hazard but have thus far failed to lure him away from Stamford Bridge

Real Madrid are reportedly planning to offer Chelsea a swap deal involving James Rodriguez as they hope to finally secure the signing of Eden Hazard.

The Spanish giants have long been admirers of Hazard but have thus far failed to lure him away from Stamford Bridge despite a disastrous season in the capital.

Zinedine Zidane, the Madrid manager, is known to be a keen admirer of the Belgian and is already planning for next season even though he is yet to receive the reassurances he needs.

The Sun report Madrid are willing to forsake Rodriguez in a take-it-or-leave-it swap deal with Chelsea ahead of the upcoming campaign as the Premier League champions face a period of transition outside of European competition.

Meanwhile the winger’s father has said that there is no chance he leaves Stamford Bridge this summer, despite rumours continuing to link him with an exit from the club.

Hazard was the Premier League Player of the Year only a season ago as the Blues won the title for the first time in five years, but has been a shadow of his former self this campaign, failing to score a goal in the league so far.

The 25-year-old's last goal came on 3 May last year, the day the Blues were officially crowned champions. "Eden has never said he wanted to play for PSG," Thierry Hazard said in Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

"He’s just confirmed that PSG have become a big club and that every player would like to play for clubs of that level. Eden has a contract until 2020. It’s out of question that he’ll leave the club at the moment."