Diego Costa wants Eden Hazard to stay at Chelsea for a ‘very long time’ amid Real Madrid transfer links

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has emerged as a target for Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)

Diego Costa has heaped praise on Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard, insisting he wants the Belgian to stay at Stamford Bridge for a ‘very long time’.

After an underwhelming campaign last year, Hazard has rediscovered his best form during the current season, scoring 13 goals in 33 games.

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The 26-year-old has been one of Antonio Conte’s stand-out players and his performances has sparked interest from Real Madrid.

Zinedine Zidane is believed to a huge admirer of Hazard, prepared to sanction a record-breaking transfer bid for his signature this summer.

But Costa hopes the dynamic forward remains at Chelsea as he has ‘huge potential’ and continues to impress him every day.

‘Playing with him is something beautiful,’ he said of Hazard. ‘You are playing on the field and enjoying at the same time what he does during the minutes he is on the field, because he is a top player.

Diego Costa insists Hazard is one of the best players in England (Picture: Getty)

‘At every moment I know more or less when he is going to pass the ball on to me and I also sort of know when he’s going to ask me for the ball to complete the move.

‘He is a boy who impresses me every day. He has huge potential and he is a very humble, easy-going guy. A beautiful person. We get on really well while playing and I hope we stay together like this for a very long time.’

Chelsea fixtures

Bournemouth (A) – Sat 8 Apr
Manchester United (A) – Sun 16 Apr
Tottenham (N) FA Cup – Sat 22 Apr
Everton (A) – Sun 30 Apr
Middlesbrough (H) – Sat 6 May
West Brom (A) – Sat 13 May
Sunderland (H) – Sun 21 May

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Spanish striker Costa added in an interview with Chelsea’s official website: ‘He’s proved how important he has been.

‘He is the sort of player who makes the difference in very important games. He is a different sort of player and to me he is one of the best players in the Premier League by far.’