Chelsea: Eden Hazard admits it would be 'difficult to say no' to Paris Saint-Germain move
Eden Hazard has stoked the flames ahead of Chelsea's Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain on 16 February by admitting he would find it difficult to reject a move to the reigning Ligue 1 champions. The Belgian international, who was named PFA Player of the Year in 2015 after he played a crucial role in bringing the Premier League title back to Stamford Bridge for the first time in five years, has endured a far more difficult 2015/16 campaign to date.
After scoring 19 times in all competitions last term, Hazard, who is contracted until 2020, failed to score a single goal during a miserable start to the Blues' title defence that eventually led to Jose Mourinho's sacking and replacement by interim boss Guus Hiddink in December. He finally opened his account for the year during a 5-1 demolition of Championship strugglers MK Dons in the fourth round of the FA Cup last month, while the 25-year-old's start against Newcastle this weekend was his first since suffering a groin injury at Crystal Palace six weeks ago.
Such underwhelming form has led to increased speculation over the player's future. Hiddink has already admitted that he could leave Chelsea this summer, with Real Madrid thought to be leading the race for his signature largely due to Hazard's long admiration for manager Zinedine Zidane.
Links with PSG are certainly nothing new, however, becoming a key topic of conversation during previous Champions League knock-out ties between the two clubs.
When asked if he was interested in potentially moving to the French capital during an interview with Le Parisien, Hazard replied: "Difficult to say no to PSG, as all teams capable of winning the Champions League. Now, PSG is part of this category. And for me, winning the Champions League is the main objective. But for now, I do not dwell on it."
Although Hazard appears open to the possibility of a transfer, he has always been quick to assert that he would be content to stay at Chelsea despite a hugely disappointing campaign that saw them hovering just one point above the relegation zone before Mourinho's latest departure.
"Everything is possible, yes," he said of Hiddink's claims. "But I have a contract that runs for another four years. Even if things are complicated this year I am at Chelsea. I'm in a good group that can win trophies every season.
"No, I do not know [where he will be playing next season]. Because it is always uncertainty in football. If we stick to the contract, I'll still be at Chelsea next season."
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.