Real Madrid have made the first move in their bid to sign Eden Hazard, by approaching Chelsea about a summer deal, with the Belgian’s idol, Zinedine Zidane, making a spectacular return to the Bernabeu.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Real firmed up their interest in Hazard shortly before Zidane’s ­reappointment, on a contract until 2022, had been finalised. The decision to replace Santiago Solari with the Frenchman will only increase the Chelsea forward’s desire to go.

It is understood Real have made a proposal to Chelsea, who value Hazard at £100 million despite the fact he will only have 12 months left on his contract at the end of the season.

Hazard is expected to tell Chelsea he wants to join Real and has not given the London club any encouragement that he will sign the contract extension worth well over £300,000-a-week that has been on the table for months.

Fifa’s refusal to freeze Chelsea’s transfer ban during their appeal has complicated matters, but it has not altered Hazard’s desire to join Real this summer.

Eden Hazard is Chelsea's star player credit: getty images

Chelsea still hope to eventually get their ban frozen through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which would at least allow them to spend the money recouped for ­Hazard and sign another big star.

Despite him rescuing a point for Chelsea with a long-range equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, sources insist Hazard believes his time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end.

He was particularly upset by the Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out ­defeat by Manchester City, in which he performed superbly, as he ­believed it was his final Wembley appearance for the club.

Real’s managerial situation had not been considered crucial to their pursuit of Hazard, but Zidane’s return is certainly a boost to the La Liga giants and another blow to Chelsea. Zidane was Hazard’s hero as he grew up and the 28-year-old wore the World Cup winner’s name and number on the back of the France shirt he owned.

Eden Hazard (right) and his brothers, Thorgan (centre) and Kylian (left), are huge Zidane fans credit: mundial

Real reappointed Zidane after their season collapsed inside a week. They were eliminated from the Champions League, and suffered two Clasico defeats by Barcelona, who knocked Real out of the Copa del Rey and left them 12 points adrift of the league leaders.

“Things will change, in every way, we have to change things for the years to come,” Zidane said, raising the prospect of a squad overhaul which could place Gareth Bale’s future in doubt. The Welshman struggled for game-time towards the end of Zidane’s last spell in charge. “When the president called me, I could not tell him no,” Zidane added. “When you have won a lot, sometimes you can have a dip, and this year it has been like that. We must look forward.”

Hazard has previously made no secret of his admiration for Zidane, saying: “Everyone knows the respect I have for Zidane as a player, but also as a manager. He was my idol. For sure, to play under Zidane would be a dream.”

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Zidane recommended Hazard to Real on a number of occasions during his first spell in charge. He said in 2015: “After [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Hazard is my favourite player. I love watching him because he is a player who creates things and it is often spectacular to see him play.

“Do I see him going to Real Madrid? Ask someone else. I love the player and that’s all.”

With Ronaldo now at Juventus and Messi still performing heroics at Barcelona, Zidane will see Hazard as the man to spearhead Real’s comeback under him.

Zidane resigned from his position at Real at the end of last season, following a third successive Champions League success.

He had taken a break from football during which time he was linked with Manchester United, Juventus and even Chelsea, but Real convinced him to go back after just nine months away.

Real fired Julen Lopetegui after 4½ disastrous months, but successor Solari did not do much better and his fate was sealed by the shock Champions League defeat by Ajax.

While the return of Zidane to Real will be welcomed by Hazard, it may not be such good news for his old Chelsea team-mate Thibaut Courtois. Zidane is a big fan of ­Keylor Navas and did not want to replace the Costa Rican when Real made a move for Kepa Arrizabalaga, before eventually signing Courtois last summer.

Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League three times with Real Madrid credit: afp

Courtois has been criticised for his performances since forcing through his move to Real by effectively going on strike at Chelsea, but the Belgian could find his place in jeopardy under Zidane.

Bale has been the target of criticism by Real fans and Spanish media in recent months. He does not want to quit Real and his wages make it difficult for any English club to afford him, but the Welshman has admitted previously that he was never close to Zidane.

He was upset at being left out of the starting line-up for last season’s Champions League final, before stepping off the substitutes’ bench to score twice in Real’s 3-1 victory.

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Asked about being left out and his relationship with Zidane, Bale said: “He didn’t talk to me about it – I still haven’t spoken to him since. I wouldn’t say we were best mates, it was just a normal professional relationship.”

Tottenham Hotspur will be delighted by Real’s decision to turn back to Zidane, having feared their manager Mauricio Pochettino could head for the Bernabeu. With Manchester United set to offer the permanent job to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Spurs will be far more confident of hanging on to the Argentine for at least another season.