Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Eden Hazard and Lucas Silva Rumours

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard reportedly remains among the top transfer targets for Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane this summer.

That’s according to OK Diario (h/t Alejandro Alcazar of Sport), which suggested the Frenchman has not forgotten about the Blues star despite his indifferent performances of late. “Zidane feels the player would be an ideal addition to the squad, although the Premier League side’s elevated valuation could prove an obstacle to a potential deal,” it added.

According to Alcazar, with question marks over the future of both Isco and James Rodriguez at the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos could be on the lookout for a new creative force. Hazard has shown in the past at Stamford Bridge that he is capable of fulfilling that role.

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In 2014-15, he was the standout player in English football, pushing the Blues to a comfortable title triumph with some dazzling wide play. Following a season of such high standards, many anticipated that Hazard would cement his status as a world-class talent.

Sadly for him, that progression never occurred, with the 25-year-old enduring a rapid and prolonged dip in form.

As these numbers from Squawka Football illustrate, although the majority of 2015-16 was forgettable for the player, there were signs of the old Hazard in the final weeks of the campaign:

Indeed, Hazard is young and determined enough to rediscover those levels again. At Chelsea, there were flashes of life at the end of the previous campaign, which will be encouraging to incoming manager Antonio Conte, who will surely want to keep Hazard on board. But it could also be encouraging for Real Madrid.

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After all, Los Blancos are a team renowned for chasing the best young talent in the game, especially those who thrive in major tournaments. So if the Chelsea man lights up the UEFA European Championships this summer as captain of Belgium, he should only fuel Real’s interest.

Football journalist Liam Canning thinks Hazard’s late flourish could be well-timed with a potential transfer in mind:

It’s a move that would surely appeal to the former Lille man, who would relish playing alongside the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Of course, it would take a mammoth offer for Chelsea to consider selling, but Madrid have shown in the past that they aren’t shy when it comes to spending big on elite attacking stars.

Lucas Silva Set for 2nd Loan Spell

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According to Marca, Real Madrid midfielder Lucas Silva will be sent out on loan again next term.

The Brazilian was at Marseille in 2015-16 and endured a very difficult season; as noted in the piece, the playmaker didn’t see eye-to-eye with his coach Michel. Real reportedly don’t want to sell the former Cruzeiro star yet, and according to Ochoa, there is interest from nine clubs from Germany, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Silva ended up on the bench as Marseille struggled last season and, as noted by Manu Sainz of AS, was kicked off the team bus by club president Vincent Labrune. Here are some of the better moments from his stint in the south of France:

Unfortunately for Silva, this scenario was foreseeable. Signing for Madrid in January 2015, it was evident there would be a lot of stiff competition for a midfield spot, something that was quick to transpire in the opening months of his spell at the club. 

It’s difficult to see him ousting Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Mateo Kovacic, Isco or Luka Modric next season either. The best chance for the 23-year-old to ensure he has a future in Madrid is to excel at another European club on loan; a more stable environment than a struggling Marseille would surely help bring the best out of the player.