Michael Essien has urged Chelsea to tie Eden Hazard down to a new contract as soon as possible.
The Belgian's current £200,000-a-week deal is set to expire in 2020 and the Blues are keen to reward their star player again, but Standard Sport understands Hazard is in no rush to pen an extension.
Chelsea are prepared to hand Hazard, who has scored eight goals in his last 11 games, around £300,000 a week to make him the highest-paid player in the club's history.
"At the moment he is the most important player [at Chelsea]," he told Goal. "When you have Hazard, he can always do something.
"He can always create something to do something with the ball. He makes goals for himself or others. He has that magic touch.
"I think that Chelsea need to renew his contract. You don't want your best players to leave and we need him at the club.
"I think he is only motivated about playing football, he just enjoys playing football. It would take a lot of money to replace him [at Chelsea] but I hope that they can tie him down for a long time."
Hazard was voted the 19th best player in football during Thursday's Ballon d'Or voting reveal, behind N'Golo Kante and Premier League rivals Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane.
Essien feels the Belgian could win the prize if he succumbs to Real Madrid's interest.
"He could go to Real Madrid to win the Balon d'Or easier. When we talk about Eden, he is such a good player.
"He's very quick, very good on the ball. He's very strong, he may be little but he is strong, trust me! It is hard to get the ball off him.
"He's such a good player and we're happy to have him at Chelsea but I'd understand why Madrid would be looking at him. He is proving it week in, week out."
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