Hazard waiting on new signings before deciding Chelsea future

Eden Hazard will wait to see what business Chelsea conducts in the summer transfer window before deciding whether he'll sign a fresh contract that will take him beyond the current agreement of 2020.

The Belgian has already said he won't consider a new deal until after the World Cup, but his decision could be further delayed by his want to see what acquisitions the Blues make. The window closes on English football on Aug. 9, the Thursday before the opening weekend of the 2018-19 campaign.

There is also constant speculation that Hazard may be weighing up his options at the peak of his playing days. The 27-year-old has been linked to Real Madrid for some time, while Manchester City has apparently been watching developments from afar. When he does finally put pen to paper, it could be the last lucrative, long-term contract of his career.

"That's why I'm taking my time. It's something big, so I need to think about a lot of things. But one thing is for sure: I'm happy here," he told the Guardian's Dominic Fifield.

When Hazard was pressed to divulge exactly what he was waiting for at Stamford Bridge, he added: "I'm waiting for new players next season. I want good players, because I want to win the Premier League next season.

"Like I've said many times before, I think the FA Cup final is not my last game for Chelsea. It's the last game of the season, that's it. After the World Cup then we will be ready for the next season. But, for me in my mind, I'm here. I have one week to play now. Saturday is a massive game, I just want to win, for me and them also."

It's understood that Chelsea would repel offers for Hazard, but if he requests a move the club's resolve would be tested. The attacker does not have an agent, electing to represent himself.

The Lille product admits the 2017-18 season hasn't been good enough at Chelsea, but struggles to identify exactly what has gone wrong under Antonio Conte. The club won the Premier League title in style last season, but its limp response the following term has heightened the importance of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester United.

"We've had bad games, but also played a fantastic game against Liverpool recently, so I hope for Saturday the boys will be ready like we were against Liverpool last week," he continued. "If we play all together, we can do something, especially against Manchester United."