Real Madrid ‘will pay’ the €130m needed for Eden Hazard — report

It’s not clear if the report is about an agreement in price or just Real Madrid’s willingness to meet Chelsea’s demands, but there may not be much practical difference between the two.

El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol reports tonight that Real Madrid will get the Eden Hazard deal done for €130m, and are making plans to present him after the Champions League final on June 1. Supposedly that date was set to upstage a potential Barcelona victory in that final, though that consideration is no longer valid after Tuesday night’s shocker at Anfield. Still, if Chelsea and Hazard advance to the Europa League final (May 29), then that date will continue to make sense.

Either way, the deal looks to be getting closer. Pedrerol is said to be one of the closest sources to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. That doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a guaranteed outcome, but it does mean that it’s probably something Perez wants out there to make himself look good — and will most likely follow through.

Reports earlier today had talked about Real Madrid growing frustrated with Chelsea’s staunch refusal to do business under £100m, and maybe hoping that Hazard would submit a transfer request instead.

The €130m should meet Granovskaia’s asking price.

This could actually be happening, at last.