Chelsea have held talks with Real Madrid over the possible transfer of their out-of-form forward Karim Benzema. According to recent reports in the English media, the Blues are in negotiations with Los Blancos in pursuit of their underperforming French striker. The France international has failed to impress under Zinedine Zidane this season and has struggled in front of goal so far. The 30-year-old has found the back of the net five times in all competitions this season. Zidane’s side are currently trailing their nearest rivals and La Liga leaders Barcelona by a massive 19 points.
It is believed that the Galacticos are eager to ship Benzema out of the Spanish capital this summer. Some sources are also claiming that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has held talks with the west London outfit over a deal involving the forward. It is also being reported that Los Blancos are keen to include Benzema in a player-plus-cash deal for the services of Eden Hazard. The Belgian winger has been a long-term target for the Spanish giants.
The 27-year-old has featured in 35 matches for Chelsea this season, scoring 13 goals and providing 9 assists in all competitions.
Chelsea are currently in fourth place in the Premier League standings, a massive 19 points behind league leaders Manchester City. Antonio Conte’s men have fallen off the pace in recent weeks due to their lack of firepower up top. A possible move for Benzema in the summer might address some of their attacking concerns and help them close the gap to the Manchester clubs. However, the departure of a world-class talent like Hazard could leave their title chances in tatters in the coming years. A player plus cash swap deal involving Benzema for Hazard can work for both teams if Chelsea have a worthy replacement lined up for the Belgian at Stamford Bridge.
Zinedine Zidane’s side are in dire need of reinforcements in the summer and the addition of someone of the calibre of Hazard can turn out to be a shrewd piece of business from the Galacticos. The Belgian has the talents to be a big hit at the Spanish capital and could be an ideal solution to their struggles in front of goal. The acquisition of the Chelsea star can help them bridge the gap between themselves and Barcelona going into the next campaign.
It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the futures of Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema, and whether both clubs are able to reach an agreement involving the two players.
