Chelsea are optimistic Eden Hazard will sign a new £300,000-a-week contract and head coach Antonio Conte believes the Belgian is ready to take his career to “another level” in the Champions League.

Hazard knows that Chelsea want to reaffirm his position as the club’s highest earner with a huge pay rise and there is encouragement from both sides that the forward will sign an extension to his current deal that is due to expire in 2020.

Despite interest from Real Madrid, Hazard is known to be happy at Chelsea, where he was this summer joined by his 22-year-old brother Kylian, who was signed from Hungarian club Ujpest.

As Chelsea prepare for their toughest Champions League Group C assignment against Atletico Madrid, there is a feeling that, despite his recovery from ankle surgery that has restricted him to one start against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, this is Hazard’s time to shine against Europe’s best.