Real Madrid are eyeing Chelsea forward Hazard with their current attack in sore need of a revamp.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s best days appear to be behind him with Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio also failing to fire.
As a result, Zinedine Zidane wants Hazard in order to ensure Los Blancos keep pace with Barcelona at the La Liga summit in the future.
And Spanish outlet Don Balon claims the club want to open negotiations as soon as possible – with Barcelona now key to the deal.
Chelsea have been drawn against the Catalan giants in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Blues go into the game as underdogs with Ernesto Valverde’s side yet to lose a competitive match in any competition since August.
Hazard remains Chelsea’s undisputed star with the Belgium international thriving under Antonio Conte.
Yet Don Balon say Real, despite their fierce rivalry with Barcelona, want the Nou Camp outfit to dump out the Blues.
It is said they plan to open negotiations for Hazard as soon as Chelsea’s involvement in the competition comes to an end.
Real are wary about how the player’s price could rocket if he shines at the 2018 World Cup.
Madrid have had to overpay in the past based off big tournaments with the Brazilian Ronaldo and James Rodriguez both tricky deals to complete in 2002 and 2014 respectively.
And Real are keen to avoid a bidding war, with clubs such as Barcelona and PSG no doubt interested in Hazard too.
Meanwhile, Zidane has claimed nobody will leave the Bernabeu when the transfer window reopens next month.
“I am very happy with my staff, I do not want it to change, I want no one to leave,” he said.
“But in football, everything happens.
“There are more people apart from me when it comes to choosing things and we can talk.
“When the market arrives we will talk, but it may not change anything. Surely nobody will leave.”