Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has urged Eden Hazard to stay at the club, admitting that they "need" to keep the Belgian if they are to win trophies next season.
Hazard has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer and fuelled speculation over his own future by suggesting that it "might be time to discover something different" after six years with Chelsea.
The 27-year-old has made no secret of his desire to play for Madrid at some stage of his career, but Fabregas talked up the importance of Hazard to the team and hinted that the Blues cannot afford to lose him this summer.
"I think he's our best player. We are a top club, we want to be a top team, we want to win things, and for that you need your best players. Eden is one of them," Fabregas told reporters.
"He's a player that we all love to play with, especially me. For us, he's our most important player. Everyone loves him - the fans, the club, the players, and we need him. He knows that."
Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea and Madrid have agreed a £170m fee for Hazard, which would make him the second-most expensive player of all time.
The winger has scored 89 goals in exactly 300 appearances for Chelsea, helping the club to two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Europa League crown during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Barney Corkhill
