Hazard set for new long-term Chelsea deal, confirms Mourinho

Posted Saturday, December 20, 2014 by Talksport.co.uk

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Eden Hazard can become an all-time Blues great, having revealed the winger is set to sign a new long-term contract with the club.

Hazard, now in his third season at Stamford Bridge, is one of Europe's brightest young stars and is playing better than ever for the Blues, netting four goals in his last seven matches.

And the 23-year-old Belgium international is set to be rewarded for his form with a lucrative, long-term deal in west London.

Reports suggest he will become Chelsea's highest-paid player and Mourinho confirmed the Blues flyer will be imminently putting pen to paper.

"He will [sign]," the Portuguese said. "I was never worried about it, since the moment I met his father."

"Everything was very clear about their intentions and their happiness to stay with Chelsea."

"After that, it becomes a numbers situation. When it becomes a number situation, I'm more than happy to be out."

"But my club always told me that the situation would finish with a new contract, so I was never worried about that."

Hazard has certainly justified the £32million Chelsea paid Lille for his services in 2012, with his fine performances last term see him named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

That is one of a number of individual accolades the Belgian has earned, although the only piece of silverware he has claimed with Chelsea is last year's Europa League.

More honours looks set to arrive this season, though - the kind of success which makes Mourinho confident Hazard can enter club folklore.

"I think so, I think so," Mourinho said when asked whether Hazard can become an all-time great at Chelsea. "He needs to win titles because titles make players' history.

"I don't know players who are considered legends in clubs without winning titles, so he has to do that but the potential, I think, everybody knows."