Jose Mourinho has said that he expects Eden Hazard to sign a new contract with Chelsea, despite recently claiming that the physical nature of the Premier League may force the Belgian to leave.

The Premier League leaders have been in contract talks with the winger since the summer, but are yet to finalise the new deal which is expected to make Hazard the club's highest-paid player.

When asked by reporters whether he thinks that Hazard will stay, the Blues manager said: "I think he loves it here. I think so. I think, I hope [he will stay].

"The first free kick of every game is somebody kicking him. He has fouls and fouls and fouls. I don't see many yellow cards.

"Sometimes a yellow card is a consequence of violent conduct, but I also think that accumulation of small fouls is also violent conduct. The kid is suffering the consequences of that, but playing amazingly well."

Hazard has scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for Chelsea this season.