Chelsea round-up: Eden Hazard to miss start of the season; Everton make Romelu Lukaku demands; new suitors for Diego Costa

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The Guardian are among the sources to report that Eden Hazard has fractured his ankle in training whilst away with the Belgium national team and could be set to miss the start of the 2017/18 season. Whilst it is too early to have any conclusive reports, most estimates range from six weeks to three months out of action.

It comes as a devastating blow to the forward after a superb season, ending in the worst possible way. Now, Hazard will have his eyes set on a recovery over the summer, with the injury all but certain to put an end to a potential summer move to Real Madrid now that he will be sidelined.

He could be joined in attack upon his return by Romelu Lukaku as TeamTalk claim that Everton have made their demands and want Michy Batshuayi to make a move to Goodison Park as part of the deal. That would see the striker put an end to a miserable season in London since moving last summer.

However, there could be a hitch in the deal as it seems that Ligue Un champions Monaco are also keen on Batshuayi, with the former Marseille man hoping to make the move to the principality rather than to Merseyside. As such, it could take some of Chelsea’s best negotiating skills to pull off a deal.

Achieving the signing could be more important than ever as Italian source Gianluca Di Marzio reports that top scorer Diego Costa is attracting interest from Serie A giants AC Milan as they prepare for a rebuild of their squad this summer with strong financial backing from new owners.

Costa’s future has been in doubt with interest from China and Atletico Madrid, but with the Chinese season now underway and Atletico subject to a transfer ban, the San Siro outfit could find themselves in pole position to sign the Spaniard if he does opt to leave Stamford Bridge.

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