Real Madrid boss wants Chelsea ace instead of Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane reportedly prefers a move for Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard ahead of Kylian Mbappe this summer. The European champions have been looking into a deal for Monaco’s Mbappe in recent weeks, but Zidane is not entirely convinced of the player’s abilities.

According to Diario Gol, the French head coach would rather favour a deal for Hazard this summer owing to his vast experience in the Premier League. Mbappe only became a first-team regular at Monaco in the backend of last season, and Zidane is said to have differences over a move for the teenage wonderkid.

Hazard has helped the Blues to the English title in two of the last three seasons, and the Frenchman sees him as the perfect fit to bolster Los Blancos’ forward department. Real celebrated their first La Liga and Champions League double since 1958 last term, and Zidane is keen to extend this feat for another season, although it would be a tough task with the competition around.

Mbappe has been valued in excess of €100m in recent weeks, but Zidane is confident that Hazard could be available for a lesser sum, should the club’s hierarchy lodge an attempt for his services this summer. Hazard has apparently told his close pals that he could consider a potential switch to Madrid in the future, but any attempt is likely to be rebuffed by Antonio Conte, who is eager to achieve European success with Chelsea.

Hazard notched 16 goals and five assists for the Blues during the previous campaign as they romped to the Premier League title with two games to spare. He was also a leading candidate to be named the PFA Player of the Year, but teammate N’Golo Kante just edged him with his tireless work rate over the course of the 2016/17 season.

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