Manchester City 'to bid £80m for Eden Hazard'

Manchester City are reportedly preparing a bid of £80m for Eden Hazard should he decide to leave Chelsea this summer.

The 25-year-old's future at Stamford Bridge has been subject of much speculation in recent weeks, with one report even claiming that he had already told friends that he would be leaving at the end of the season.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane rates Hazard as the third-best player in the world behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and is considering a world-record £100m offer, while Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester United have also been linked with bids for the out-of-form midfielder.

According to The Sun, Man City are now entering the race and are hopeful that Hazard's Belgian teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Vincent Kompany will be able to assist in tempting him to the Etihad.

City are thought to be close to a deal to bring in Pep Guardiola as new manager, with Hazard said to be his number two transfer target behind Messi.