Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Elite Signings Targeted by Blues

The next Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly spoken to Eden Hazard about his future at the football club, with the Italian said to be keen on keeping him at Stamford Bridge.

That’s according to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, who has suggested the pair held talks last week. Mokbel also noted that, in the wake of these discussions, "the feeling to emerge from the meeting is that Hazard will remain at Stamford Bridge next season," with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain noted as interested parties.

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Mokbel's piece also said Chelsea will be looking to receive a staggering £70 million before they consider selling the Belgium international, an amount unlikely to be matched after this dreadful term.

Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones has also stated the former Juventus boss wants to keep Hazard on board:

Named as the PFA Player of the Year after last season, the expectations were that this bright young talent would kick on to become one of the best players on the planet. Instead, there’s been a remarkable deterioration, as these statistics illustrate:

	2014-15	2015-16
Apps (Sub)	38	21 (5)
Goals	14	0
Assists	9	3
Shots per game	2.1	1
Key passes per game	2.6	2.2
Dribbles per game	4.8	2.5

In his press conference on Friday, current boss Guus Hiddink admitted the 25-year-old is in a major malaise at the minute, stating the forward is in a "dark place," per BBC Sport.

"He was the number one and now he's at the end of a long row of players," added the Dutchman.

"The next period will be very interesting for him. Not now, just this season, but also the Euros and the upcoming season. If he is planning (to move) in his career, then he must show it where he is playing now and in the near future."

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Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez notes just how far Hazard has fallen on the back of his tremendous 2014-15 season:

It’s been a tumultuous few months for Hazard in which little has gone right, with a succession of injuries preventing him from gathering any momentum or consistency. But there’s no denying there’s a quality player in there.

Conte will be confident of drawing the best from him next season, and perhaps a new boss will trigger something in Hazard. The club’s supporters, who will know just how good the player can be, would love to see him start afresh at Stamford Bridge under a new manager, not elsewhere in European football.

Chelsea Contact Javier Pastore

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According to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Max Miller of Metro), Chelsea have been in touch with Paris Saint-Germain’s Javier Pastore over a potential summer move.

Conte, according to the report, wants to rebuild his squad after what’s been a season to forget at Stamford Bridge and is said to view the Argentina international as a figure who could add some intricacy to the middle of midfield. Here’s the kind of qualities he could bring:

Pastore has always been a fascinating footballer. At his best, he’s a treat to watch, as he glides past opposition defenders into dangerous areas and often has a final pass at the end of his jinking dribbles. Still, he’s a pretty inconsistent operator and a player who has suffered frequently with injuries.

Nevertheless, despite being a regular substitute this season, as Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Johnson notes, PSG have often looked more fluent with him in the side:

In the No. 10 position in which Pastore operates, the Blues are privy to plenty of options, with the likes of Oscar, Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Willian and even recently Ruben Loftus-Cheek occupying that position. It means it’s an area Conte doesn’t need to address as a priority this summer.

Pastore could certainly do with a move, as he remains on the periphery at the Parc des Princes. A key part in a side on a regular basis would add consistency to his game and help bring the best out of this elegant footballer. Given PSG’s wealth of midfield options, that’s not something likely to come to light in the French capital.