Eden Hazard close to signing new contract with Chelsea, says Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the club is working hard to secure the long-term future of arguably its best player, and that a deal will get done in the near future.

Eden Hazard was linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but ESPN FC reports that "significant progress" is being made in contract talks, and that the Belgian is on the verge of a new five-year deal that will pay him £200,000 per week.

Mourinho did not discuss any specifics of the potential deal, but did say the two sides are close.

"It's true Chelsea are trying to have an agreement over a new contract, and that he wants to stay and commit for a few more years," he said during a press conference. "It's a question of time. One more month, one less month, and he'll have a new contract.

"He means a lot because he's a fantastic player. We are feeling day by day his motivation to work hard and improve.

"We have big hopes that he will go from the top player he is at this moment and will reach higher levels to become one of the best. He is a player who we want to keep, in spite of the fact he has a long-term contract as young as he is."

Mourinho, who famously criticized Hazard's lack of defensive work last season, says the young winger has come a long way from a year ago.

"Even last season it was changing," the Portuguese manager said. "It was a big evolution from the Hazard I met in Thailand when I arrived (for preseason last year). He was changing.

"He was a kid always living on his natural talent, which is amazing, but he was just living on that. But from a certain moment he started to have some tactical education, mental education ... so young. I think there's been a big improvement. That's why we're seeing that, from a top talent, he's a fantastic player."