According to report emanating from Spanish publication Diario Gol, Chelsea have held talks with Real Madrid over a possible swap deal involving Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema.
The reigning European champions hoping to take advantage of the doubts surrounding Hazard’s future at Stamford Bridge with a move for the Belgian forward.
Real president Florentino Perez is believed to be keen on the prospect of signing Hazard and that a move for him is likely to get completed at the end of the season.
The overall cost of the Blues forward could be lowered as Real are believe to involve Benzema in a cash-plus-player deal, who has struggled for form this campaign.
Benzema has only find the net just twice in La Liga and has grown increasingly unpopular amongst the fans at Santiago Barnebeu.
He has been part of Real’s BBC attack that has, by its usual standards, misfiring this season, with the club fourth in La Liga and 19 points of Barcelona.
And Hazard, who has scored 14 goals across all competition, has been linked as a prime target for the La Liga giants to reinvigorate their attack.
Hazard has been the standout performer in a season that has grown increasingly disappointing.
Monday night’s 4-1 defeat against Watford has left the West London club hanging on to a place in the top four and led to doubts over the future of Chelsea boss Antonio Conte. Hazard, then, could look to jump ship if Real Madrid present him with an offer.
If Chelsea refuse to negotiate, however, Perez will reportedly turn to Tottenham’s Harry Kane. Any deal for the Premier League’s top scorer would also involve an exchange.