Zinedine Zidane will look to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea this summer – but only if Real Madrid sell Gareth Bale.
Welsh superstar Bale has won three Champions League titles and one La Liga title since signing for Real from Tottenham in 2013.
His individual record while in the Spanish capital – 81 goals in 183 games – reads well but he has nevertheless been persistently linked with a departure over the past year.
More: Football
Troubled by injury problems, Bale has endured a mixed season and was again named on the bench for Reals 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
The 28-year-olds relationship with Zidane has deteriorated since the last-16 Champions League first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, in which he was left out.
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Bale earned a start for the second leg of Reals quarter-final clash against Juventus but was hauled off at half-time after an underwhelming display.
Zidane has previously dismissed the suggestion that Bale could leave Real Madrid, but the Daily Mail say the French legend is losing his patience and is now willing to sell.
And if Bale does indeed secure a move away this summer, Zidane will make Hazard his first-choice replacement despite the Chelsea forwards recent struggles.
The 27-year-old Belgian has scored 16 goals in 45 games for the Blues this season but had not got on the scoresheet for over two months before last weekends comeback win at Southampton.
Zidane will be given a substantial transfer kitty this summer, particularly if he provides Real Madrid with a hat-trick of Champions League wins, and is determined to bring Hazard to the Bernabeu.
Speaking at the end of last month, Hazard said he will wait until after the World Cup to contemplate his future at Chelsea.
More: Football
I am going to finish the Premier League competition first and then play the World Cup and then I will leave on holiday, he said.
Then we will see what happens next. I do not think about it yet. I have another two years [on my] contract with Chelsea where I am very happy.
MORE: Robert Lewandowski breaks silence amid Chelsea transfer links
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Zinedine Zidane will look to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea this summer – but only if Real Madrid sell Gareth Bale.
Welsh superstar Bale has won three Champions League titles and one La Liga title since signing for Real from Tottenham in 2013.
His individual record while in the Spanish capital – 81 goals in 183 games – reads well but he has nevertheless been persistently linked with a departure over the past year.
More: Football
Troubled by injury problems, Bale has endured a mixed season and was again named on the bench for Reals 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.
The 28-year-olds relationship with Zidane has deteriorated since the last-16 Champions League first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, in which he was left out.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Bale earned a start for the second leg of Reals quarter-final clash against Juventus but was hauled off at half-time after an underwhelming display.
Zidane has previously dismissed the suggestion that Bale could leave Real Madrid, but the Daily Mail say the French legend is losing his patience and is now willing to sell.
And if Bale does indeed secure a move away this summer, Zidane will make Hazard his first-choice replacement despite the Chelsea forwards recent struggles.
The 27-year-old Belgian has scored 16 goals in 45 games for the Blues this season but had not got on the scoresheet for over two months before last weekends comeback win at Southampton.
Zidane will be given a substantial transfer kitty this summer, particularly if he provides Real Madrid with a hat-trick of Champions League wins, and is determined to bring Hazard to the Bernabeu.
Speaking at the end of last month, Hazard said he will wait until after the World Cup to contemplate his future at Chelsea.
More: Football
I am going to finish the Premier League competition first and then play the World Cup and then I will leave on holiday, he said.
Then we will see what happens next. I do not think about it yet. I have another two years [on my] contract with Chelsea where I am very happy.
MORE: Robert Lewandowski breaks silence amid Chelsea transfer links
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