Frank Lampard has insisted Eden Hazard will leave Chelsea as a club legend, with the Belgium international expected to join Real Madrid this summer.

Lampard, the former Chelsea captain, admits the departure of Hazard will make the Premier League a poorer place but said his decision must be respected.

Hazard is set to finally complete his protracted move to Real Madrid in the next few weeks, although Chelsea are playing hardball with the Spanish giants over the fee. Chelsea want a deal in excess of £100million.

The 28-year-old revealed after Chelsea's draw at Leicester that he has informed officials of his intentions and will announce it publicly after the Europa League final against Arsenal on May 29.

He will leave after seven years with two league titles, the FA Cup and Europa League to his name and Lampard believes he deserves to go down in history as one of the Stamford Bridge greats.

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“I would certainly say that in the seven years Eden Hazard has been at Chelsea he’s elevated himself to one of the great players in their history, without a doubt, in terms of what he’s done on the pitch," he said.

“It would be a shame for the Premier League and for Chelsea to lose him. But we have to also understand the individuals' wants and desires on the pitch and what they want to do.

“I actually don’t know [whether Hazard will leave]. The signs are that he might be leaving, it seems, if the clubs can agree on that and if that’s what the player wants.

“I know Eden and I like him and I would go by what he wants to do.”

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