5 potential replacements for Eden Hazard if he leaves Chelsea

Eden Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Eden Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Belgium international is in a brilliant form this season and bagged seven goals and three assists in the opening eight Premier League games. He was also awarded the PFA Premier League Player of the Month: September 2018 for his brilliant performances.

The 27-year-old joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 and established himself as one of the best players in the world. He played 216 Premier League games for the London-based club, scoring 86 times. Hazard won the PFA Player of the Season award 2013-2014 and was also included in the PFA Team of the Year on four occasions.

His impressive performances for the English giants caught the attention of Real Madrid and the talented attacker is being linked with a move to the Bernabeu in the recent weeks.

There is no doubt that Eden Hazard will massively improve the team that he joins but, at the same time, his departure will leave a huge void in the Chelsea squad.

Right on this note, here is a list of five players that the Blues can target if Hazard decides to leave the club in summer.


#5 Wilfried Zaha

Wilfried Zaha is arguably the best player outside the Premier League 'big-6'.
Wilfried Zaha is arguably the best player outside the Premier League 'big-6'.

Arguably the best player outside the Premier League's 'big-6', Wilfred Zaha has the ability to be an important player for any of the big clubs.

Zaha made his professional debut for Crystal Palace during the 2009-10 season and moved to Manchester United in 2013. However, he failed to impress during his time at the Old Trafford and re-joined the Eagles on loan for the 2014-2015 season - a move which was made permanent at the start of 2015-2016 season.

The Ivorian is winning the Crytal Palace Player of the Season accolade continuously from the last three seasons and is one of the key reasons for the Eagles' survival in the Premier League. He scored 25 goals in 136 Premier League games since re-joining Crystal Palace.

The former Manchester United attacker plays his best football from the left, but he is fully capable of operating from the right or behind the striker as well. His electric pace and slick dribbling skills give him the ability to beat defenders with ease, while his finishing and an eye to pick up a killer pass are also added to his valuable attributes.

The 25-year-old was linked with a move to Chelsea in the last summer transfer window but the move failed to materialize. However, Chelsea could again turn their attention towards him if the Belgium international decides to leave.

#4 Hirving Lozano

Hirving Lozano made a name for himself at the FIFA World Cup.
Hirving Lozano made a name for himself at the FIFA World Cup.

The Mexican international is one of the hottest prospects in football right now and is attracting a lot of interest from the big clubs following his performances in the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Known for his speed, technique and finishing abilities, Lozano joined PSV Eindhoven in 2017 and quickly became a fan favourite with his impressive performances. He played a vital role in PSV's title-winning 2017-2018 season and contributed 17 goals along with 11 assists. The former CF Pachuca player started strong this season as well and already registered seven goals and one assist in the opening eight Eredivisie games.

The 23-year-old was linked with a move to the Blues during the last summer transfer window and the Mexican will be a perfect replacement for Eden Hazard if he decides to leave the club.

#3 Lorenzo Insigne

Lorenzo Insigne is amongst the best player in the Seria A.
Lorenzo Insigne is amongst the best player in the Seria A.

Maurizio Sarri developed a number of players as superstars during his time with Napoli and Lorenzo Insigne is among his biggest success stories.

Best known for his dribbling, vision, and passing skills, he is at his best when playing behind the striker. However, he is also pretty versatile and can play on either wing and even as a striker. He already bagged six goals and one assist in eight Serie A games so far this season.

He often finds the best pass for attackers to thrive on and is also capable of scoring goals from a distance. His most prolific season was in 2016-2017 when he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in the league.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to the Blues recently and Maurizio Sarri could use his Napoli links to lure the talented Italian to the Stafford Bridge.

#2 Florian Thauvin

Florian Thauvin is in a brilliant form.
Florian Thauvin is in a brilliant form.

The French winger joined Newcastle from Marseille in the summer transfer window of 2015 but he failed to make a grade and managed to play only 13 games for the club.

He spent just six months with the Magpies before heading back on-loan to his former club, Marseille. He found his lost form during his loan spell at his former club and Marseille signed him permanently in 2017.

He scored 41 goals in 94 league games during his second spell at the Stade Vélodrome (including the loan period) and won the UNFP Player of the Month award three times. His brilliant performances with his club caught the attention of the French coach Didier Deschamps and he was chosen as a part of France's FIFA World Cup 2018 winning squad.

His vision, dribbling, and ability to score goals from distance will make him an interesting option for the Blues if Eden Hazard decides to leave the club.

#1 Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale will be a dream replacement for Eden Hazard.
Gareth Bale will be a dream replacement for Eden Hazard.

The Welsh international is among the best players in the world right now and would be a perfect replacement for Eden Hazard.

Gareth Bale joined Southampton's youth team in 1999 and made his first-team debut for the club as a 16-year-old during the 2005-2006 season. He made 40 Championship appearances for the Saints before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2007.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a successful spell with the Spurs and won the PFA Player of the Year 2012-2013. His impressive performances in the Premier League caught the attention of Real Madrid's backroom and they paid the then-world record transfer fee of €101 million to sign the Welshmen in 2013.

However, injuries hampered his growth at Real Madrid. Nevertheless, on his day, the world knows that he is capable of winning a game on his own and he showed that recently in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool.

Real Madrid might refuse to sell Bale after losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in the last transfer window but Chelsea could use Los Blancos' admiration for Eden Hazard to play a part in the deal.

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Edited by Vikshith R