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Hazard won't leave while Chelsea can't find a replacement

GLYN KIRK / AFP / Getty

Eden Hazard was accused of batting his eyelids at Real Madrid earlier in the summer when he said "they know what they have to do" to sign him from Chelsea, but he won't be switching London for the Spanish capital this month.

The Belgian, whose energy off the bench aided a 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Saturday, is beginning his seventh season with the Blues but, at the age of 27 and with a deal that winds down in 2020, he appeared to be entertaining one massive transfer at his peak.

However, no one was signed by Chelsea to cover Hazard's position, so the Lille product says a move is off the cards for now.

"Everybody knows what I have said after the World Cup. But I'm happy here," Hazard told RMC Sport after the weekend win, as reported by the Guardian's Sachin Nakrani.

"A lot has been said. A lot of stupidity too. But at the moment I'm happy. I have two years left on my contract and we'll see what happens. Leaving this year? I won't go. The transfer market in England is closed. Clubs can still sell players, but not sign new ones anymore. It would be a bit strange that they would sell me now while they can't sign a replacement."

Chelsea have been trying to tie Hazard down to longer terms worth around £300,000 a week, but the attacker is yet to scribble on fresh paperwork. It was widely believed Real Madrid were entertaining a marquee signing following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. Hazard's international teammate Thibaut Courtois also left Chelsea for Los Blancos near the end of the English transfer window.

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