Conte hopes Courtois, Hazard pen new Chelsea deals before World Cup

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte may be keeping a finger on the pulse of each transfer window, but he's also hoping to pen a couple of his own players to new contracts before next summer's World Cup.

The Italian tactician - whose ranks were boosted by five new signings last summer totaling nearly £200 million in fees - is hoping the Blues can come to terms with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and star attacker Eden Hazard before the Belgian internationals head to Russia, according to Liam Twomey of ESPN FC. Conte also insisted that neither player is a finished product and said both have room to grow at age 25 and 26, respectively.

"They have a lot of space for improvement," he said. "They are very young players and it will be great to keep them with us.

"Thibaut is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Maybe the best now. And also Eden. But I think the club knows very well the importance of these two players and I think they are very happy to play for this club. It is normal during the season to have the contact between the player - or the agent of the player - and the club. I hope that at the end, Thibaut will sign his contract."

Courtois has seven clean sheets this season for Chelsea - conceding just 12 goals - while his compatriot at the other end of the field has notched five goals and recorded two assists in a dozen appearances. While Hazard has made no secret of his admiration for Real Madrid, he hasn't suggested a desire for a change of scenery. Meanwhile, Courtois seems to be in no rush to get a deal done, instead deferring to his agent, Christophe Henrotay, to speak with the club.