Chelsea Transfer News: Eden Hazard to Snub Madrid, Morgan Schneiderlin Rumours

Eden Hazard is "unlikely to consider" a move to Real Madrid, despite a public appraisal from Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane, according to Matt Law of The Telegraph.

Law reports Hazard has "no plans to leave Chelsea any time soon," saying "sources close to the 24-year-old insist he wants to keep playing at Stamford Bridge next season and beyond." The Belgian star is currently working through his best Premier League campaign, catching the eye of many in the process.

Zidane has certainly taken notice and recently ranked Hazard alongside the game's best, per FIFA's official website:

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There are players I keep an eye on and who I like a lot, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, of course. They’re fantastic players, but I like Eden Hazard a lot too. I enjoy everything he does on the pitch. I like the way he carries himself, that decisive streak in him and the fact that he’s improving every year. He can still get better too, and I think he’s a big reason why Chelsea are on top of the table.

"

Ed Aarons of the Guardian believes rumours cannot be avoided with this quote in mind:

Hazard is the main man at Chelsea these days, having posted 13 goals and eight assists in 32 Premier League appearances this season, per WhoScored.com.

He has become more incisive, more willing to take control of possession and make something happen. Vitally, Hazard has learnt he doesn't need to play the killer pass every time he gains control.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Much like Gareth Bale's transition from Tottenham Hotspur to the Bernabeu, there's always the chance Hazard would be overshadowed in the Spanish capital. Cristiano Ronaldo remains Los Blancos' most important star, both on and off the pitch. As such, comparisons to Ronaldo have left Bale open to harsh criticism this season. Hazard could experience the same.

Law's article will give fans hope that he plans to stay for the long term, however. Manager Jose Mourinho has worked hard to nullify Hazard's weaknesses and to ensure the player knows his game is judged on far more than scoring goals.

B/R UK's Garry Hayes believes potential suitors have no chance of signing him after the player inked a new contract in February:

Mourinho is said to be weighing up a move for Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin. He could offer Jon Obi Mikel plus cash, according to The Sun (h/t James Cambridge of the Express), a deal which would likely satisfy both parties.

The Blues would receive a world-class defensive midfielder—one whose distribution and quality on the ball are underrated—while Saints would gain a ready-made replacement and money to spend. Such an offer could see Arsenal fall short in their reported quest to land Schneiderlin, per Cambridge.

This kind of business would be typical of Mourinho. He has a habit of getting what he wants when moving players on, sticking within UEFA's financial fair play rules to ensure Chelsea don't receive an unnecessary punishment.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Mikel has proven his quality in the Premier League and could become a key player at a smaller club. Schneiderlin is ready to make the opposite step and would form a monstrous midfield partnership with Nemanja Matic.