Chelsea would be “crazy” to sell Belgian superstar Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, according to former defender Robert Huth.
Hazard – who scored a fantastic double in the Blues’ 2-0 win over West Ham United – has been linked with a move to Spain this summer as his contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 2020.
Should Chelsea sell Hazard? Five things you need to know…
- Hazard has made 342 appearances for the Blues in a seven-year spell at the club, scoring 108 goals.
- The Belgium international has helped the west London club win two Premier League titles, the Europa league and both the FA and EFL Cup.
- His contract expires at the end of the 2019/20 season.
- Chelsea have been given a transfer ban that stops them from bringing in any players for the next two transfer windows.
- In the past, Hazard has admitted that a move to Real Madrid would be a “dream”.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7227287-barcelona-will-rely-on-their-jon-snow-to-deal-with-any-man-utd-counter-attack
Former Chelsea centre-back Huth – who made 62 appearances for the Blues across five seasons, winning two consecutive Premier League titles in the process – believes that the club would be “crazy” to let a player of Hazard’s ability leave.
Huth also feels that it would be particularly foolish due to Chelsea’s enforced transfer ban, which is set to deny them an opportunity to source a potential replacement for Hazard.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Huth said: “There is no better challenge than at Real Madrid.
“But if you were Chelsea you would be crazy to sell Eden Hazard now with the transfer ban over your head.
“What’s the point in selling him for £100m if you can’t buy anyone? On the pitch, you are losing your main player.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YjFP5J_MuY
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Do Chelsea have a ready-made replacement?
The thought of Hazard leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of this season is something that may strike fear into the heart of even the most positive of Chelsea fans.
After all, even with Hazard at the helm – scoring 16 Premier League goals in 36 matches this season – the Blues have been absent from this year’s title race and could miss out on a top-four finish.
21.3% of Eden Hazard's 108 goals for Chelsea across all competitions have been celebrated with a knee slide.
Manchester United are the team he has done it against the most (3). 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xmCWxFRzHH
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 9, 2019
Meanwhile, one man who has struggled for game-time this season is Callum Hudson-Odoi. Despite bagging his first senior England call-up this season, he has rarely convinced Maurizio Sarri that he is the man to step up and lead Chelsea into a new era.
Clearly a man of immense talent, Hudson-Odoi is not yet at the same consistent level that Hazard is. However, given time, patience and faith, he may develop into a key player for Chelsea.