Chelsea seem to have come to terms to losing Eden Hazard this summer, and are targeting Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a replacement. Hazard is understood to have decided to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain both keen to sign the Belgium international.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been in and out of the Arsenal side due to injuries and has struggled to hold down a place in the first team. Jose Mourinho was an admirer of the midfielder, and Chelsea’s interest in the England international remains despite the Portuguese’s sacking.
Although Hazard has made up his mind to leave Chelsea, he will not be sold this month. Paris Saint-Germain believe they are the frontrunners to sign Hazard in the summer but face competition from Spain’s Real Madrid and Germany’s Bayern Munich.
However, the mega-rich French club are confident they can land the playmaker and Hazard seems to be pretty set on leaving to greener pastures next season. PSG will even try to capitalise on his unsettled situation at Stamford Bridge with a cut-price offer of around £45million, though Chelsea consider him to be worth almost double that. Chelsea defender David Luiz was sold to PSG for £50m in 2014 and the Barclays Premier League club will demand more than that for last season’s PFA Player of the Year.
Hazard is understood to be resigned to leaving, despite having just signed a new five-year contract worth £200,000 a week last season. Problems started brewing between Hazard and Chelsea primarily due to the escalating tensions between Mourinho and Hazard. Chelsea face PSG in the Champions League last 16 at the Parc des Princes on February 16 and it will give Hazard’s potential suitors a chance to watch their top target.
Hazard wants to continue competing in Europe’s elite competition next season and Chelsea are unlikely to be able to offer him that as they sit 14th in the table. That, though, is partly down to Hazard having struggled for form and fitness this season as Chelsea embark on the worst title defence in Premier League history.
The 24-year-old has not scored in any competition this season and went off with a groin injury after just 15 minutes on Sunday as Chelsea won 3-0 at Crystal Palace. The squad trained at Cobham on Wednesday after being given two days off by interim manager Guus Hiddink following the win at Selhurst Park.
Despite his poor form, Hazard is still considered one of the greatest footballers in the world and PSG believe they can convince him to return to France where he previously played for Lille.
Even if he does leave to a top club like Bayern Or Madrid i dont think he can cope with the competition to be a starter like he is at Chelsea. At PSG I can see him taking a spot but PSG shouldnt be put at the level of Barca, Mardrid, or Bayern
I think Hazard should resign to himself that he will never be at the top level like those at Madrid Bayern and Barca those guys are a different class. PSG is just a good club as well.