Conte rules out Hazard as Neymar replacement

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insists Eden Hazard is not for sale amid rumours of interest from Barcelona.

The La Liga giants are reeling after losing star attacker Neymar, with the Brazil international having agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222 million.

The sudden departure of Neymar so close to the start of the 2017-18 campaign leaves Barcelona in a difficult scramble to replace him, but the Catalan club are now flush with cash.

Rumours have placed them with numerous players, including Philippe Coutinho, Kylian Mbappe and now Hazard, who has been linked with a big move to La Liga in the past.

However, Conte insists the Belgian star, who will miss this weekend’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal, is not for sale while also confirming the Blues remain in the market for additions.

"We are trying to buy the players, not to sell," Conte told reporters. "Otherwise the number is always less and we are in trouble. I think these are rumours and Eden is very happy to stay with us, to play with Chelsea and to recover from his injury and to start the season with us."

UCJ, UNILORIN.