Many people in long-term relationships are scared of getting married. There’s the pressure of organising a huge party; the fear or looking a bit fat; the embarrassing speeches; the painfully assembled guest list; the sheer cost of it. But most commonly of all, there’s that nagging feeling that – maybe – if you hold off from those nuptials just a bit longer, you might meet someone better-looking.

And this is why Eden Hazard is refusing to sign a new contract at Chelsea.

It’s more than five years that the Blues and the Belgian have been an item – and they’ve been through great times and terrible ones together – but now Hazard is being asked to make a longer term commitment.

Today’s Times reports that he has been offered a new £300,000-a-week contract, enough to afford diamond rings for every digit of his body, but the 26-year-old is getting cold feet about staying at Stamford Bridge.

READ MORE: Conte urges Chelsea board to open talks with duo

Because he knows that if he says yes, that would “effectively end” his hopes of signing for Real Madrid, who are better-looking than Chelsea from virtually every angle.

But do Real Madrid even want him? Yes, according to the Express, which says Real coach Zinedine Zidane has identified Hazard as the man to “get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo”.

The paper gives no specific details of what this means in a practical sense. It’s also unclear whether Eden would be keen on leaving west London – where he is the centre of attention – for a club where he would have to vie for Zidane’s affections with his other rather high-maintenance bride, Cristiano.

Walcott set for Arsenal exit

Who knew that just speed wouldn’t be enough? Walcott needs to start regularly but won’t at Arsenal

One man who is not likely to be offered a new contract anytime soon is Theo Walcott, with whom Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger appears to have finally lost patience – entrusting him with just 47 minutes of Premier League football all season.

The Sun claims, with uncharacteristic understatement, that the Gunners are “willing to sell” the former England winner in the January transfer window, with West Ham and Southampton “set to swoop”.

Emirates defensive outcasts Mathieu Debuchy, Carl Jenkinson and Calum Chambers could also “be sold or loaned out next month”. Or maybe they could quit football and form a small NGO warning other footballers of the dangers of trying to become Arsenal’s first-choice right-back.

Tottenham’s first-choice left-back, meanwhile, looks increasingly likely to move to Manchester United. The Mail reports that the Red Devils are “confident” of landing Danny Rose in a £50m deal, “either in January or next summer”.

READ MORE: Lampard reveals real reason he left Chelsea

READ MORE: Is Pogba helping Man Utd to sign Ozil?

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has demanded a £20m January transfer kitty so he can buy “a striker, a No10, a left-back and a goalkeeper”, says the Mirror. Sounds like Rafa might have to go shopping for those in Sports Direct.

Elsewhere, Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho will get a far more generous £80m transfer “war chest” next month (Sun), rumoured Magpies striker target Cenk Tosun has been valued at a preposterous £100m by his club Besiktas (Newcastle Chronicle) and West Ham face competition from Real Madrid for 27-year-old Krasnodar striker Fyodor Smolov (Mail). Tough decision for Fyodor, that.

@darlingkevin