Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has reportedly informed incoming boss Antonio Conte that he plans to stay at the club next season.
According to ESPN FC, the Belgian international has indicated that he sees his future at Stamford Bridge, despite his struggles this season and suggestions that he would consider his options in the summer.
Having played an influential role in Chelsea’s title triumph last season, Hazard has failed to score a single Premier League goal so far this year with the Blues set to miss out on European football.
That led to plenty of criticism in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho’s sacking in December, and it appeared as though an exit was perhaps a possibility with top clubs from Europe unsurprisingly likely to be monitoring the situation in west London.
However, the ESPN FC source has claimed that Hazard is happy following a meeting with Conte and reiterated his desire to get back to top form and help the club win further honours as of next season.
In turn, it will be a welcome boost for Conte who will naturally be confident in his own ability to get the best out of all the players at his disposal at the club starting this summer.
The former Juventus boss has built a reputation for being a fierce competitor even as a coach, and his relentless approach to getting the maximum out of his players in terms of desire and effort will undoubtedly be a welcome sight at Chelsea.
Whether or not he can make an immediate impact remains to be seen, as aside from adjusting to life in England both on and off the pitch, Conte will face a level of competition that he hasn’t been familiar with in his coaching career thus far.
Nevertheless, with the likes of Hazard and Cesc Fabregas (as revealed on Monday Night Football) all seemingly relishing his arrival, it will make Conte’s job easier to have top-level players motivated and ready to work hard in order to bring the good times back to the Bridge.