Jamie Carragher says Eden Hazard is the best player in the Premier League and one who is "too good" for Chelsea.
A magnificent display including a wonder goal set Chelsea en route to their 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
West Ham's fans taunted Chelsea by singing "He's off to Madrid", with the Blues' board apparently holding out for £100million from Real to complete a transfer this summer.
Carragher was gushing in his praise of the 28-year-old who he believes is now on a level above anyone else in the league.
"I almost feel Eden [Hazard] has to play at that level [with Real Madrid]. He's too good for Chelsea at this time. He's that good a player," he said on Sky Sports.
"When Luis Suarez was at Liverpool and he was linked with Arsenal, me and Steven Gerrard said to him: 'You're too good for Arsenal'. With Eden at Chelsea, he's too good. He needs a club like Real Madrid on his CV.
"He's the best player in the league. In co-commentary, sometimes you say things you don't mean and I've said before that he was the best player in the league.
"People then say: 'But what about [Raheem] Sterling, [Leroy] Sane and [Mohamed] Salah. But over a four or five-year period, I think Hazard is. I don't necessarily think the person who has scored the most goals is the best player but Hazard does things that others can't do.
"People talk about players like Sane, [Sadio] Mane, Salah – who can score goals like that? You can't take the ball off Hazard."
Hazard's contract expires next year and, while the 28-year-old claims he is undecided on his long-term future, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri believes the Blues continue to fight to retain their prize asset.
Asked if Chelsea can afford to lose Hazard, Sarri replied: "From the technical point of view, no, not at the moment.
"It's impossible to find another Hazard; at the moment there isn't another Hazard. The level is so high.
"So in the world you can't find another player like that. So I hope that Hazard can stay here, otherwise we have to try something different."
