Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has reignited speculation over his future by saying it would be difficult to rebuff an approach from Tuesday night’s Champions League opponents Paris St Germain.
Hazard, signed from Lille for a reported £32 million in June 2012, has been repeatedly courted by Real Madrid and PSG after his scintillating performances last season when Chelsea won the Premier League and Capital One Cup.
The Belgian’s displays this season have been less emphatic and Chelsea’s lowly league position means a likely absence of Champions League football next term – unless the Blues beat PSG in the last-16 tie, the first leg of which takes place at Parc des Princes on Tuesday, and go on to win this season’s European Cup.
A summer of transition is likely, but a player exodus is possible if Chelsea are not in Europe’s elite competition.
The 25-year-old told Le Parisien: “(It is) difficult to say no to PSG, or to any of the teams capable of winning the Champions League.”
“PSG are now in that category. And for me, winning the Champions League is my main aim.”
Hazard attempted to backtrack, pointing to his contract that expires in 2020, but the timing of his comments will cause alarm with the Blues facing the most important week of their season as Manchester City visit in the FA Cup on Sunday.
“For the moment, I’m not really thinking about (a move),” Hazard added.