Hazard had been tipped for a move to PSG
Chelsea winger Eden Hazard will remain at Stamford Bridge next season, after holding talks with newly-appointed manager Antonio Conte.
It had seemed, for some time now, that the 25-year-old would leave Chelsea at the end of the campaign, with both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid interested in the former Lille man.
However, Conte is understood to now have held talks with the Belgian and explained what role he will play for the Blues next campaign – after a season where he has yet to register a league goal.
Hazard won the PFA Player of the Year last season, but has registered just two goals this season – both coming in the FA Cup – and hinted at a move to the Parc des Princes.
First casualty
For many Chelsea fans, they had thought they had seen the last of the winger, but a change of manager has seemingly tempted the Belgian to stay in west London, after looking likely to be the first player to leave the Bridge this summer.
A fantastic season for the player and club last season has been met with a dramatic decline in form of both Hazard and Chelsea, with the Blues shockingly flirting with relegation at Christmas and last season’s star player looking in no way the player he was last campaign.
But Conte is seemingly confident about Hazard’s talents, and that he can get him, and Chelsea, firing again next season, as they aim for a return to the Champions League.
That is bad news for both PSG and Real, who were prepared to offer big money for the winger. But it is unlikely to stop them from trying to unsettle the Belgian at Stamford Bridge.