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Real Madrid announced they’ve agreed on a deal to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea this summer. The Spanish giants will pay the Blues an initial £88million for the 28-year-old, though the fee will rise to a total of £130million after add-ons.
Hazard has been a key player for Chelsea this season, scoring 21 goals and picking up 17 assists for Maurizio Sarri’s side last season and guiding them to Europa League glory.
Chelsea are now busy preparing for life after Hazard. A transfer ban is currently imposed on Chelsea, meaning the Blues are unable to sign any new player for the next two windows. The club are appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA rejected their case.
What options do Chelsea have among their current crop of players to replace Hazard? (via Express)
Christian Pulisic
Chelsea signed Christian Pulisic in January but loaned him straight back to Borussia Dortmund until the end of the season. Now the 20-year-old will hope to make an impact and slot straight into Hazard's shoe on the left of the Chelsea attack. The American will need to improve on a record of just six goals and four assists in 28 domestic appearances this campaign if he wants to nail down a spot permanently.
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Willian and Pedro
The pair have shared duties on the right wing when Hazard was fit and firing on the left, while both Willian and Pedro were sometimes deployed together in cup matches if the Belgian was given the evening off. With both players racking up over 50 appearances for the Blues since the start of the campaign, it’s not inconceivable that they are both given starting berths next season and asked to fill the void left by Hazard’s departure.
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Callum Hudson-Odoi
Considered by many to be the long-term successor of Hazard at Chelsea but Hudson-Odoi is currently sidelined by injury and will not be fit for the start of the season. The Blues youth product ruptured his Achilles in April and it was feared he could miss more than six months, although his recovery is reportedly progressing faster than expected and he could be back training by September.
Ross Barkley
Often utilised as a substitute by Sarri, the England international only managed 28 starts across all competitions for the Blues this season. Five goals and six assists is not an awful return for the former Everton ace, having been deployed in a three-man midfield, although he will need to bolster his numbers to compensate for Hazard’s exit.
Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso
Palmieri and Alonso have rotated at left-back this campaign with neither able to fully emerge as first-choice under Sarri. Both are generally considered better in attack than defence, meaning it is not inconceivable for one of the pair to be deployed on the left flank if the Blues find themselves in dire need.
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Loan recalls
Tammy Abraham is the most likely attacking player to force his way into the first team. Michy Batshuayi and Alvaro Morata are still on the Blues’ books but neither were considered prolific during their time at the Bridge so Mason Mount may present a more attractive option for the Blues hierarchy. Victor Moses and Kenedy are also still under contract and could temporarily slot in out wide.
