Eden Hazard stalling on contract talks with Chelsea — report

According to the Times, Chelsea star Eden Hazard is stalling on the contract renewal offer made by the club in September. Said offer includes a £300,000-per-week salary, which would make him the highest earner in the history of the club.

Supposedly, Eden’s main reasoning behind that is his interest in playing for Real Madrid ... although the report also says he is happy at Stamford Bridge. He apparently doesn't want to commit to a new deal that would prevent him from joining Real Madrid next summer. There is also the factor of Zinedine Zidane, Eden’s idol, still in charge of the club despite some poor results this season.

If all that sounds familiar that's because outside of the scary headline, there's nothing new in this rumor. We know Chelsea want to extend Hazard and the £300k has been reported consistently. Just as consistent have been the Real Madrid rumors, ever since he joined Chelsea in fact. It's all getting a bit boring, though if Hazard does actually move to Real everyone will claim that they told you so.

The one consideration that the Times does get right is that if Hazard does sign a new five-year deal he will have essentially committed himself to Chelsea for the rest of his prime. Sure, contracts are hardly as binding as they used to be, but this is Hazard's last easy chance to make his supposed dream move happen.

So hopefully, just as with Courtois, we'll get this deal done sometime in the next 6-18 months. (Not that the Real Madrid rumors will ever stop...)