Chelsea will open talks with Eden Hazard on a new £300k-a-week contract next month.
Negotiations on an improved deal were scheduled to take place at the end of this season.
But Stamford Bridge chiefs have decided to bring talks forward after increased speculation that Hazard is the top summer target for Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old is in the process of appointing a new agent and that has made the situation more complicated.
Chelsea, however, are keen to fight off interest from Real and will offer a new deal despite the fact Hazard was given a pay rise to 200k per week two years ago.
Real president, Florentino Perez, is up for re-election this summer and is widely expected to name Hazard as his next prospective ‘galactico’ signing.
Chelsea are confident of keeping their star player who is very settled in London with his young family and enjoying his football under coach Antonio Conte.
His current deal expires in 2020 but Chelsea are willing to extend that by a further two years as well as adding valuable bonuses to his 100k-a-week pay rise.
Blues’ chiefs have also promised Hazard that he can expect the squad to be considerably strengthened this summer as the club prepare to return to Champions League football.
Manchester United target, Antoine Griezmann, is also on Chelsea’s wanted list and would be an attractive prospect for Hazard to play alongside.
This post was last modified on November 30, 2018 1:57 pm