REAL MADRID’S hopes of landing Eden Hazard could depend on whether Gareth Bale is sold, according to reports.
The Chelsea star is still on the Spanish giants shopping list despite failing to land him last summer.
But any move for the 27-year-old will depend on the future of the Welsh superstar who is struggling for game time at the Bernabeu, say the Daily Mail.
The former Spurs attacker’s relationship with Zinedine Zidane has deteriorated since he was overlooked for the Champions League first leg win over Paris Saint-Germain in February.
Zidane snubbed Bale in the return game in Paris and suffered the same fate in the quarter-final first leg against Juventus.
He began the second game at the Bernabeu but was hauled off at half-time in the dramatic 3-1 defeat.
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It was thought Zidane would give Bale a run out in the win at rock bottom Malaga, but the forward was not even in the travelling party.
Bale came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of Wednesday night’s disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao.
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He was the first off the pitch at the final whistle, disappearing straight down the tunnel as his team-mates headed for the centre-circle.
The forward has a lucrative contract at Real Madrid until 2022 and has never hinted at cutting short his time in Spain.
His determination to fight for his place could prove problematic if the European champions make a serious tilt at Hazard this summer.
However they are unlikely to entertain the £90million valuation mooted in January when their season looked in tatters and Zidane looked to be on his way out of the club.
Things have turned around and a third straight Champions League triumph would considerably strengthen the French coach’s hand in terms of summer additions.
Underwhelming showings against Barcelona and Blue’s second disastrous title defence have damaged Hazard’s reputation in Spain.
More pressing recruitment issues are a new goalkeeper and a striker to replace Karim Benzema.
That could leave Hazard watching Bale’s situation closely as he ponders his future beyond the end of this season.
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