Real Madrid are stepping up their bid to sign Eden Hazard and want to agree a deal with Chelsea before the end of the season. As first revealed by Telegraph Sport, Real have already opened talks with Chelsea over Hazard and are expected to make a fresh approach this week.

Hazard has no intention of signing an extension to his contract that is due to expire in 2020, leaving Chelsea in a difficult negotiating position.

The Blues still value the 28-year-old at upwards of £100million, while Real do not want to pay much more than £85m.

But Hazard is now hopeful a deal will be agreed and Real want the Belgian to be the first signing of the new Zinedine Zidane era.

Hazard will be looking to add to his 17 goals in all competitions against West Ham United on Monday night. His best total for Chelsea remains the 19 he scored in 2014/15, which he is on course to beat.

Chelsea failed in a bid to get their televised Premier League match against West Ham moved forwards because of Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final trip to Slavia Prague.