sport news Eden Hazard's Chelsea masterclass against West Ham means Real Madrid want him ...

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As Madrid media drooled over Eden Hazard’s first goal at Stamford Bridge on Monday night it was not lost on them that with his double against West Ham he now has 85 Premier League goals – one more than Cristiano Ronaldo managed in England.

Hazard is more likely to inherit the No 10 shirt from Luka Modric than Ronaldo’s old No 7 if he signs for Real Madrid this summer but the hope in the Spanish capital is that just as occurred with Ronaldo – his goal tally will rocket once he leaves the Premier League for La Liga.

Ronaldo scored his 84 goals in 196 games. Hazard has taken 240 to net his 85th and it is recognised that he will never be the goal machine Ronaldo became in Spain.

But Zinedine Zidane does feel that the 28-year-old Belgian can become a 20-goal-a-season player, not just someone who plays the final pass so that a team-mate can score.

Real Madrid have been linked with a host of centre-forwards but with top choice Harry Kane out of their reach and Zidane favourite Saido Mane also extremely difficult to get out of Liverpool, the club could avoid signing an out-an-out centre-forward on the understanding that Hazard will help fill the goals deficit created this season by Ronaldo's departure.

If they don't buy a striker it would mean Karim Benzema continues as the first-choice front man. The Frenchman is enjoying his best season at the club since he joined in 2009. In what has been a difficult year he has scored 26 goals in all competitions just six from his all-time best since he joined.