Chelsea Could Re-Sign $116M Forward Who Was Their 'Key Player' As Per Tuchel: Report

Chelsea are reportedly planning to re-sign Eden Hazard, who was the Blues' 'key player' according to head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea and Real Madrid have begun informal discussions regarding Hazard’s transfer. The Blues are not willing to pay more than $46 million for Hazard, who is currently contracted with Real Madrid until 2024, Catalan publication El Nacional reported.

After spending seven seasons at Chelsea, Hazard made a $116 million move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2019. The report has also claimed that considering Chelsea’s offer of $46 million is just around a third of the fee Real had paid to Hazard in 2019, the Spanish side has demanded the Premier League club to give them defender Reece James in exchange.

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Hazard sees a return to Chelsea as a "very good option."

Having been capped 352 times at Stamford Bridge, Hazard netted 100 competitive goals for Chelsea as he helped them win many laurels, including two Premier League titles. Following Chelsea’s victory in the Europa League in 2019, the Belgian forward switched to La Liga but his career has sort of stalled in Spain because of various injuries.

He has struggled to replicate the same success he tasted in the blue shirt as he has managed only 51 appearances, across all competitions for Real Madrid and scored five times along with nine assists.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich believes that Hazard’s dip in form is just a phase and the winger could once again recapture his best form back at the London club, according to soccer website Football Transfers.

Last season, when Chelsea took on Real Madrid in the Champions League, Tuchel had hailed Hazard, calling him a "fantastic player."

"He is a top quality player and a key player for many years at this club and this league, the hardest in the world.So consistent; I have the biggest respect for him. He is a big player, we have many people here who know him well. He was a key player for this club," Tuchel said in an interview earlier this year.

Under Tuchel, Chelsea won the Champions League last season as they defeated Manchester City in the final in Lisbon.