Chelsea players 'afraid' Eden Hazard will quit for Real Madrid this summer

Chelsea star man Eden Hazard [Courtesy]

Chelsea players are "afraid" of losing talisman Eden Hazard in the summer, according to Blues defender Emerson Palmieri.

Hazard has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season, an outcome that would have the backing of returning Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane.

Italy left-back Emerson played on Sunday as Hazard rescued Maurizio's Sarri's side with an equaliser deep into injury time that salvaged a point against Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

And although he insists he is confident the playmaker will remain in west London next season, Emerson admitted to concerns that Hazard may well leave.

"He shows every day how important he is," Emerson told Sky Sports.

"Obviously we have many players of quality in our team but he is on another level, and is one of the best in the world.

"I personally cannot see him leaving, but you never know in football. Like Chelsea fans, we are afraid that he might leave, I still believe that he will stay and we really want him to stay."

Emerson has started Chelsea's last two Premier League games, having found opportunities limited since he arrived at Stamford Bridge from Roma 14 months ago.

"When I first arrived in January, I was coming back from a serious knee injury," Emerson added.

"I needed to get back into training, I needed to get match fit.

"I needed to settle in, new city, new club, new teammates, this season I am playing a lot more. Any player will tell you that when you are playing a lot more, the more you feel part of the project.

"I think I have progressed in the speed of play. In the Premier League it is so much faster, you cannot really have two touches on the ball before you get two or three opponents on you.

"This is something I have grown on, learned to play the ball faster and be more aggressive."