Chelsea boss Sarri tells Hazard to copy Kante and end Real Madrid talk

Oli Fisher

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes that Eden Hazard should follow N’Golo Kante’s lead and sign a new deal at the club.

The France international put to pen to paper on a new contract reportedly worth £290,000-a-week, while it is understood that Chelsea are willing to offer in excess of that to get Hazard to sign.

There have been rumours over the last few years that the Belgium playmaker could swap Stamford Bridge for Real Madrid in the future.

However, Sarri is very clear that he wants Hazard to sign up as soon as possible.

“This (Kante) is very important news, he is a very important player for us,” Sarri said.

“He is very important player for us in the defensive phase and is improving in offensive movements. Now he has to improve in the last 20-25 metres, he can score more.

“I don’t know about a new contract (for Hazard). I don’t know about the evolution of a new contract, I think we can do it. I hope so.

“N’Golo, for us, is not just an important player. He’s a ‘determining’ player for us. So I’m really happy with the new contract. Clearly very pleased for him. And it’s a very important news.

“I know that David told something about him, that he doesn’t want to pay the bill in the restaurant. So he has a flaw like everybody. But I think he is a really professional player, very professional on the pitch and off the pitch.”