Thibaut Courtois believes Eden Hazard cannot be replaced at Chelsea and says it is vital he agrees a new contract with the club.

Hazard starred for Chelsea in their 2-2 draw at Arsenal last night, winning and scoring the penalty that levelled the scores at 1-1.

The Belgium international has more than two years left on his deal and Chelsea are confident they will agree an extension when they hold talks later in the season.

Real Madrid continue to be linked with the 26-year-old, but Courtois feels Hazard is not a talent Chelsea can afford to sell. “Losing a player like Eden would be bad for us, the club,” he said. “Eden is irreplaceable. With the money he will raise, you can buy five players but none of them will be like Eden. It would be like Barcelona losing Lionel Messi or Real Madrid losing Cristiano Ronaldo.

“If you excel, there will always be teams interested in signing the biggest players. But that’s why if Chelsea have ambition to be the best club in the world, these kind of players have to stay.”

Courtois’ future has also been subject to speculation, with Real Madrid maintaining their interest in the 25-year-old. His deal expires in 2019 but discussions have already taken place over an extension that would double his £100,000-a-week salary.

Courtois has reassured anxious fans that he expects to stay on and suggests Hazard is prepared to do so, too. When asked about whether an announcement over his situation is imminent he added: “It has just turned the new year, so we will wait a few weeks and then sit around the table. I’m happy at Chelsea and a deal is close.

“Has it been a distraction? Not for me. I’m just calm and relaxed because I’m tied to Chelsea. Despite the rumours and everything, I am focused on Chelsea and I’m happy here.

“Do Eden and I encourage each other to sign? Yes. He will say ‘if you sign, I will sign’ and I say the same to him!

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Chelsea | 03/01/2018 39 show all In Pictures | Arsenal vs Chelsea | 03/01/2018 1/39 Getty Images 2/39 AFP/Getty Images 3/39 AFP/Getty Images 4/39 Action Images via Reuters 5/39 AFP/Getty Images 6/39 AFP/Getty Images 7/39 AFP/Getty Images 8/39 Getty Images 9/39 Getty Images 10/39 AFP/Getty Images 11/39 Getty Images 12/39 Getty Images 13/39 AFP/Getty Images 14/39 Getty Images 15/39 Getty Images 16/39 Getty Images 17/39 Getty Images 18/39 AFP/Getty Images 19/39 AFP/Getty Images 20/39 AFP/Getty Images 21/39 AFP/Getty Images 22/39 AFP/Getty Images 23/39 Getty Images 24/39 AFP/Getty Images 25/39 AFP/Getty Images 26/39 AFP/Getty Images 27/39 AFP/Getty Images 28/39 Getty Images 29/39 AFP/Getty Images 30/39 AFP/Getty Images 31/39 REUTERS 32/39 PA 33/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 34/39 EPA 35/39 Getty Images 36/39 Getty Images 37/39 Getty Images 38/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 39/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/39 Getty Images 2/39 AFP/Getty Images 3/39 AFP/Getty Images 4/39 Action Images via Reuters 5/39 AFP/Getty Images 6/39 AFP/Getty Images 7/39 AFP/Getty Images 8/39 Getty Images 9/39 Getty Images 10/39 AFP/Getty Images 11/39 Getty Images 12/39 Getty Images 13/39 AFP/Getty Images 14/39 Getty Images 15/39 Getty Images 16/39 Getty Images 17/39 Getty Images 18/39 AFP/Getty Images 19/39 AFP/Getty Images 20/39 AFP/Getty Images 21/39 AFP/Getty Images 22/39 AFP/Getty Images 23/39 Getty Images 24/39 AFP/Getty Images 25/39 AFP/Getty Images 26/39 AFP/Getty Images 27/39 AFP/Getty Images 28/39 Getty Images 29/39 AFP/Getty Images 30/39 AFP/Getty Images 31/39 REUTERS 32/39 PA 33/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 34/39 EPA 35/39 Getty Images 36/39 Getty Images 37/39 Getty Images 38/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images 39/39 Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“I think we are both happy at Chelsea, we both have a good part to play. We have been champions twice in the four seasons I have been here and can have our peak years together at Chelsea.”

The Blues are 16 points behind leaders Manchester City with as many games left to play.

Chelsea have been significantly outspent by Pep Guardiola’s side in the transfer market and face calls from fans to invest heavily on new talent to ensure they can beat them to the trophy next term.

The defending champions are trying to strengthen in the January window and are looking at Ross Barkley, Thomas Lemar and Alex Sandro.

But Courtois has sympathy for the difficult challenge that Chelsea now face in adding star players to the squad.

He said: “It’s easy to say ‘make big signings’, but the market went nuts. The price being paid for players is too much.

“I understand the point of view of the club. You can’t ignore that. You can’t ask a club to pay so much money that it is maybe too much for a guy. That’s what’s happened in the Premier League now... and everybody smells that.”