#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/vgDSaGRUhl
— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) September 28, 2018
Now that Chelsea have secured a Champions League place for next season, the London club can focus on the next biggest matter at hand – the future of Eden Hazard. The 28-year-old is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world and is the heartbeat of Chelsea, and with Real Madrid bent on taking him to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer transfer window, the Blues are faced with a major dilemma – cash in on the Belgium international or keep hold of him for one more season and then run the risk of losing him on a free.
Hazard’s current contract at Chelsea is up in the summer of 2020, and with the Premier League club banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows until the end of January 2020, they have to keep hold of their most prized asset to have a good season in 2019-20. However, Madrid are keen on signing Hazard, who can also operate as a winger, and the Spanish and European giants could throw some major cash – money which Chelsea cannot spend this summer to sign a replacement this summer or next January.
If Chelsea want to finish in the top four of the Premier League table again next season, then they simply have to keep Hazard. Now with Champions League football assured, perhaps the Belgian could be convinced to sign a new long-term deal, give one more year to the Chelsea cause, and then leave for Madrid next summer. Of course, Hazard will be 29 by then and Madrid may have moved on, but the unadulterated love and adoration that the Stamford Bridge faithful have for the attacking player could sway his mind. Moreover, Chelsea could emerge as contenders in Europe next season. After all, if Tottenham can defy the odds and progress to the Champions League final, where they’re now rated 58/19 by many bookmakers to win it, then the Blues, with their illustrious recent history in the competition must be confident of a long run in 2019-20.
Happy to become part of the SOC family! Enjoying my first shoot with @allsportschain https://t.co/sYorIcXTeP pic.twitter.com/SbmTuCAJ2x
— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) May 17, 2018
After all, Madrid fans are very demanding, and Hazard will have to hit the ground running if he is to make himself popular among the Santiago Bernabeu, whereas at Chelsea, he is their one big superstar, a Messiah for the fans. Great players like Hazard deserve to compete with the best teams in the world, and one can understand the need for Champions League football for the Belgian. Now that Chelsea are guaranteed to play in Europe’s premier club competition next season, it only makes their hand stronger in regard to the future of Hazard.
