Thorgan Hazard unconcerned by Chelsea buyback option as deadline looms

Thorgan Hazard insists the possibility of a return to Chelsea is not on his mind as the player's profile continues to grow at Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 23-year-old, younger brother of current Chelsea star Eden Hazard, left Stamford Bridge in 2015 having failed to make a single appearance for the first team during his three years at the club.

A permanent move to Germany has seen him begin to fulfil his initial promise, catching the eye with a superb hat-trick in a Champions League qualifier against Young Boys in August and turning in another man of the match performance in the 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen on Saturday, where he scored twice.

Hazard initially joined Gladbach on loan in 2014 before making the move a permanent the following year, but Chelsea included a buy-back option, adding in their original statement the club would "continue to monitor his progress".

According to Bild, that clause expires at the end of the year, but the attacking midfielder remains solely focused on his progress in Germany.

He said: "I've signed a long-term deal and I am only focused on Borussia. I feel good here, and am currently not thinking about any other club."

After leaving Stamford Bridge, the younger Hazard brother admitted it was too early for him to be a first-team starter at Chelsea, insisting Gladbach were "the right club to continue developing at".

But the Belgium international later told Belgian newspaper HLN he stills harbours desires of returning to Stamford Bridge. "It is true that Chelsea has a buy-back option. I'm glad, because I hope to still play for Chelsea. That remains a goal."

Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's manager at the time, was impressed with the younger Hazard during his second spell in charge and admitted his biggest stumbling block into forcing his way into the first-team was his older brother.

Mourinho said: "He's one of the few players I travel to see play live and we like him very much. But there is here one player in front of him who is not bad, a guy called Hazard like him, Eden.

"The best decision was for him to go to Borussia and also Bundesliga is a good championship for him to play in and we'll see what happens."