Chelsea Transfer News: Eden Hazard Sparks New Real Madrid Rumours

Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard has fuelled talk of a potential transfer to Real Madrid after "liking" an internet rumour linking him with a move to Los Blancos in 2016. 

George Scott of the Daily Star reported the Belgium international's social media activity could further displease Blues manager Jose Mourinho, who recently dropped the attacker to the bench after a string of poor performances. 

Scott also stated there was further confusion over Hazard's social media action, with it unknown if the player had merely liked the picture in the post, rather than the link to his future career prospects as a Galactico. 

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Spanish football website Fichajes (h/t Mark Brus of Metro) has said Madrid president Florentino Perez wants to sign the PFA Player of the Year before his value increases further, suggesting the supremo will make a move for the diminutive talent in the near future. 

Hazard's form has been erratic this season, with the hangover of success from last term evident in most of his performances during this campaign. 

The player was only a substitute in Chelsea's 2-0 win against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, as the Special One looked to revamp the fortunes of the team, and save himself from a second surprise exit from owner Roman Abramovich's club. 

Sergei Chuzavkov/Associated Press

When asked about Hazard ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game at Dynamo Kiev, Mourinho said, per Scott: “How did he train? He trained like Eden. I said that, last season, he won one of the most important titles in football, the Premier League. And he was absolutely decisive in that for Chelsea. Last season he had a phenomenal season.”

But it is clear the coach is unhappy with Hazard's current performance value, with Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC believing Chelsea are not playing their cards right with the player at present, and they are inadvertently pushing him toward the direction of the Bernabeu:

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For one, there's the potential danger in Mourinho alienating his best player and one so conspicuously coveted by many big clubs. It's just so unnecessary and extreme, this time greatly deflecting attention from the champions' recently rare durability.

Those close to Hazard say that even though many within the Chelsea squad are no longer enamoured by the manager, the Belgian was not one of them. Sources say he was "on Mourinho's side," but those same sources now say that knowing Hazard, the unnecessary nature of this treatment could change that.

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Pundit Gary Neville has also hit out at the player, saying on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football: "I've got no sympathy for Hazard. I expect more of him. The level he got to last season, you started to see a great player."

Hazard scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 38 Premier League appearances last year, according to WhoScored.com. However, he looks nowhere near achieving this tally in 2015-16, with his form on the floor. 

As Delaney speculated, it will not take much to push Hazard towards La Liga, especially if Mourinho continues to sit the player on the bench in the weeks ahead. 

The issues of his work rate appear to mask Chelsea's real problems in defence, with the Blues' back four in a mess since day one of the new campaign. 

Hazard will never be the most dynamic worker in midfield, but his flair gives Chelsea a world-class creative talent behind Diego Costa, who needs to be fed in order to score. 

Chelsea have a wealth of attacking midfielders, but none of them have the explosive quality that Hazard can inject, making him a viable option to wear the white of Madrid next to the likes of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2016.