Chelsea fans could be in for a shock with the club linked with an unexpected move for their former player Eden Hazard, from Real Madrid. The Belgian winger moved to Spain in 2019 for a huge fee of around €100 million, but his time in Spain has been a disappointment.
According to Spanish outlet AS, intermediaries have discussed with Chelsea about a possible Eden Hazard return. The report claims that Madrid have to sell him for a fee of at least €60 million in the current transfer window. The report further states that the transfer fee would be more than what the Blues will be willing to pay. Chelsea may also not be willing to pay his huge wages, which increased significantly following his move to the Spanish giants.
Hazard still has three years remaining on his current deal at Real Madrid. The Belgian spent seven seasons at Chelsea, scoring 110 goals and providing 92 assists, and winning the league twice.
Eden Hazard: Can he spark their title charge?
Eden Hazard was a fan favourite at Chelsea, who wowed those at Stamford Bridge with his dribbling, speed and goals. Hazard won a lot of silverware with the Blues, but hasn’t quite delivered at Real Madrid.
He won the Spanish league in his first year at Real Madrid, but a spate of injuries and poor form have stopped him from showing his true potential. A return to Chelsea could be a great move for him and the London club, but a winger is not a priority for the Blues ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The signing of Eden Hazard may not be a necessity for Chelsea as they have plenty of attackers in their ranks. Mason Mount has become one of the most important players for Thomas Tuchel and is a nailed-on starter, while Kai Havertz showed what he is capable of in his first season in the Premier League and will be a key player in the future. The likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi are other attackers who can play in the forward areas while Timo Werner has also been utilised on the wings.
It’s quite obvious that Chelsea want a centre-forward who can deliver loads of goals and help them win another league title. The Blues have sold Olivier Giroud and Werner has been poor in front of goal while Thomas Tuchel doesn’t seem to fancy Tammy Abraham.
Chelsea are unlikely to even think of considering a move for Hazard until they sign a world-class centre-forward and have some money left to spend after that. The Belgian’s arrival at Stamford Bridge is not a non-starter but it should not be anywhere near the list of priorities for the manager and the board. Hazard could be a credible addition to this Chelsea squad, but signing him shouldn’t cost the future of young players like Mount, Havertz and Pulisic.