Pep Guardiola rules out a move for Eden Hazard ahead of Chelsea showdown

Pep Guardiola has insisted that Manchester City will not make a move for Eden Hazard despite the Belgians contract situation rumbling on at Chelsea.

Hazard, 27, is entering the final 18-months of his deal at Stamford Bridge but is yet to sign an extension despite the club prepared to break their wage record to keep him.

Manchester City have long been linked with a move for Hazard but Guardiola was adamant that City would not make a bid despite admitting that he is a world-class player.

Before the two teams game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Hazard joked that the one thing that Citys team lacked was an Eden Hazard.

When asked about a future bid for Hazard and his recent comments, Guardiola responded: That is not going to happen. I am agreeing with him. He said Im so good and I am agreeing with him.

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Switch on the TV and look at him. You realise his qualities. He is one of the best players in the world.

Hazard started the season in phenomenal form, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in Chelseas first eight league games.

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However, injuries and a slump of form have seen him fail to score in his last six, although he has still contributed three assists in that time.

City missed out on a move for Alexis Sanchez last January but bought Riyad Mahrez from Leicester in the summer to bolster their wide midfield options.

Ahead of the game on Saturday evening, Guardiola admitted the importance of winning at Stamford Bridge last season, saying: Winning there last season felt like more than three points.

It showed we could do it, the first important game away against the last champions. We could say after that we could go anywhere and deliver a good performance.

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