Chelsea star Eden Hazard open to stay without Champions League football

Eden Hazard has given Chelsea a lift by suggesting he would be prepared to stay at the club even if they're not playing in the Champions League next season.

Chelsea take on Huddersfield Town on Wednesday knowing they will most probably need to win their last two fixtures, plus hope Liverpool or Tottenham drop points, in order to finish in the top four on Sunday.

Hazard's future has been the subject of speculation throughout the campaign. The Belgium international is wanted by Real Madrid and significantly revealed in March that talks with Chelsea over a contract extension have been postponed until after the World Cup this summer.

But the 27-year-old, who joined from Lille for £32m in 2012, insists that being involved in Europe's premier club competition won't be a factor in any decision over his future.

He said: "Of course I want to play in the Champions League, but it isn’t a priority. I hope [the fans] don’t want to see me leave. I’m doing good things here.

"I’m happy here. Things can move, or they may not move. We’ll see. The public adore me, I love my team-mates, my family are good here."

Hazard has two years remaining on his current deal which is worth £200,000-a-week, but Chelsea remain hopeful that an offer of around £300,000-a-week will convince him to agree to fresh terms regardless of how the season ends.