Newcastle United will have to pay at least €50m (£42.9m) to bring Eden Hazard back to the Premier League, according to Spanish media outlet Sport (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

The publication reported at the weekend that Newcastle's new owners had 'set their sights' on the 30-year-old and were 'optimistic' about their chances of landing him.

Newcastle were tormented by the Belgian during his period at Chelsea. Across 12 appearances against the Magpies, he scored seven goals and provided four assists, making them his joint-most prolific opponent alongside Arsenal and Liverpool.

However, he is now finding starting opportunities hard to come by in Madrid. He has been selected for just four of their first 12 La Liga matches and only one of their Champions League group games.

The latest

Monday's report declared that Newcastle 'will go' for Hazard, who will be keen to leave the Bernabeu in the summer of 2022 unless his situation improves.

The report also shared Real Madrid's demands, with Los Blancos apparently willing to accept less than half the amount they shelled out for him in 2019.

The verdict

Hazard lit up the Premier League with 146 goal involvements in 245 appearances during his time with Chelsea, but it's hard to argue he's the same player nowadays.

He has suffered an alarming succession of injury setbacks during his time in the Spanish capital, while he apparently takes home a whopping £381,000 per week under his current contract.

Even if he agrees to a pay cut - which seems unlikely given the much-publicised wealth of Newcastle's owners - the move would entail a monumental financial commitment in a player who will soon turn 31 and whose fitness issues are difficult to ignore. As good as Hazard has been, it just isn't worth it.

In other news, Newcastle also want this goalkeeper in January