Conte insists Hazard is going nowhere

Chelsea Coach Antonio Conte has again quashed suggestions that Eden Hazard will depart for Barcelona in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain’s capture of Neymar.

Neymar became the most expensive player in the history of football on Thursday having completed a £200m switch from Barcelona to the French capital on a lucrative five-year deal.

With hefty funds now at their disposal, speculation has been rife that Barca will look to replace Neymar with two players – Blues playmaker Hazard and Liverpool maestro Philippe Coutinho.

Asked about therumoursat a press conference on Friday, Conte insisted: “Hazard is not for sale. He is very happy here and he is very excited to start the season with Chelsea.

“We are trying to buy, not to sell otherwise the numbers are always less and we are in trouble.

“These are rumours. Eden is very happy to stay with us and to play with us. He must recover from [an ankle] injury and then start with us.”

Conte also confirmed that Hazard will miss this weekend’s Community Shield match and the first game of the Premier League season while he recovers from the injury.