Fabregas urges Hazard to stay, says Chelsea needs to 'keep the best players'

Cesc Fabregas hopes Chelsea can retain Eden Hazard despite the Belgian star's comments about a possible move away from Stamford Bridge.

Maurizio Sarri told reporters at his first press conference as Chelsea manager earlier this week that he would like Hazard, as well as Thibaut Courtois, to stay with the club.

Fabregas echoed the Italian manager's sentiments on Friday during the team's pre-season tour in Australia.

"I speak to (Hazard) often. He is the best player at the club and we need Chelsea to keep the best players," Fabregas said, according to Liam Twomey of ESPN FC.

"He knows the fans love him and he is a player we love to play with. For sure, we want him to stay."

Following Belgium's World Cup campaign, Hazard cast doubt over his future at Chelsea, suggesting it was time for a new challenge and adding that his preferred destination - which is believed to be Real Madrid - is already common knowledge.

"It might be time to discover something different," Hazard said after Belgium's win over England in the third-place match at the World Cup.

"You know my preferred destination," he said, according to BBC Sport.

"I can decide if I want to stay or go but Chelsea will make the final decision."