Chelsea look certain to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid despite face-to-face talks between the two clubs collapsing over the fee.
Hazard, whose contract expires next year, wanted a switch done before reporting for international duty with Belgium on Tuesday, but it didn’t materialise.
The same stumbling block has remained, with Chelsea wanting in excess of £100m and Real Madrid yet to meet their asking price.
Real Madrid chief executive Jose Angel Sánchez flew into the capital to meet with the Chelsea hierarchy and the aim was to conclude matters on Monday.
But it is believed Sanchez has left London without a compromise being reached and it will cause some concern to the attacking midfielder’s advisors.
Real Madrid have already completed the £60m transfer of Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt and are keen on Manchester United star Paul Pogba. The midfielder will cost in excess of £100m so the La Liga club could make him a priority instead.
But while Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is a huge admirer of Pogba, he wants to build the side around Hazard next term and there is still a lot of optimism the 28-year-old will be unveiled at the Bernabeu soon.
