Eden Hazard 'Promised' Key Real Madrid Role Amid £100M World-Record Bid Rumours

Chelsea star Eden Hazard is reportedly Real Madrid's "prime target" this summer and has been "promised" a key role in the squad by Los Blancos, who are willing to sign him for a world-record £100 million fee. 

The Sun's Martin Lipton exclusively reported that Hazard will be handed the role of an "advanced playmaker" in the side alongside their front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.

Madrid are said to have met with Hazard's representatives on three separate occasions this year to discuss a move.

The Belgian fits the Galactico profile favoured at Real, and he would represent their biggest capture since signing Bale in 2013.

Hazard enjoyed an excellent campaign with the Blues this year, notching 17 goals and seven assists in all competitions as he helped them win the Premier League title and reach the FA Cup final.

The 26-year-old was WhoScored.com's player of the season in the English top flight:

His incredible dribbling skills were also on show, per Squawka Football:

However, he's not a natural fit in Real's side if he's to play with their front three rather than replace one of them.

In Los Blancos' typical 4-3-3 setup when Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale all play, Hazard would need to take the place of either Casemiro, Luka Modric or Toni Kroos in midfield.

Casemiro is the player who would be most under threat given he lacks the star power of Modric and Kroos, but he gives the side much-needed balance because of the defensive anchor he provides in front of the back four.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Such is his importance, he has largely kept the likes of James Rodriguez out of the first-choice XI for two seasons now.

Targeting another advanced playmaker would also perhaps be slightly redundant given the form of Isco and Marco Asensio, even if Hazard would be an upgrade on both.

The former has taken full advantage of Bale's injury problems to show his worth to the side in recent months with some majestic performances, while 21-year-old Asensio has built on a successful loan spell at Espanyol with an excellent first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, and he has outstanding potential.

La Liga writer Andrew Gaffney believes signing the Belgium international wouldn't be the most logical move:

A place in the front three would make far more sense for Hazard in the circumstances, and it wouldn't be overly surprising given both Bale and Benzema have struggled at times for form or fitness this season.

If he's to play with the front three, he'd not only have to be shoehorned in, he'd also be reducing the roles for the likes of Isco and Asensio.