Maurizio Sarri 'sure' that Eden Hazard will remain a Chelsea player

Maurizio Sarri has said he is ‘sure’ that Eden Hazard will remain a Chelsea player beyond August 31.

Although the English transfer window shut on August 9, clubs in Europe, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, can make signings for another two weeks.

Hazard has long been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to one of the Spanish giants, but the Belgian has said nothing to Sarri to indicate he wants a move away.

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“I have spoken to him often in ten days, but he has never said anything about this,” Sarri said ahead of their clash with Arsenal.

“I am sure Eden will be with us this season.”

Hazard’s Belgian compatriot Kevin De Bruyne has suffered a serious knee injury at Manchester City, which will rule him out for up to three months.

Like De Bruyne, Hazard played a large number of games last season and only enjoyed a short break after the World Cup.

Sarri is wary of burnout among his World Cup stars: “I haven’t seen the injury of De Bruyne,” Sarri said, “at this level players play a lot of games in the season, so I think for them it is very dangerous.”

One of Chelsea’s main issues this season will be the form of their strikers, with Alvaro Morata’s poor form in the second half of last season causing him to miss out on Spain’s World Cup squad.

Sarri believes that one goal could change everything for Chelsea’s main man.

“I am not worried about Morata,” Sarri added. “He is a very good player. I think in this moment he only needs to gain confidence. He is a great player.

“He needs to score. As all the strikers in the world. But he is improving so I am not worried about him.”