Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said that he is confident Eden Hazard will be with the club for the entire 2018-19 season.
Reports linking the Belgian winger with a move to Real Madrid refuse to go away with just a week remaining until the end of the European transfer window, despite the English window having closed earlier this month.
Hazard himself has ruled out leaving the club this month, and Sarri insists that selling their star asset would not be possible until they are able to identify and secure a replacement - something they will not be able to do until January at the earliest.
"I am the coach of a very good team, a very great club, and so I think it's such an important player I cannot sell without the possibility to buy another player at the same level, so I think Eden will stay with us for the whole season," Sarri told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
Hazard is yet to start for Chelsea this season, coming on as a sub in both of his side's games so far following his World Cup exploits.
Barney Corkhill
