Should Chelsea consider selling Eden Hazard?

Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard is once again being linked with a move to Real Madrid

According French publication L’Equipe, Chelsea star Eden Hazard wants to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. It is even claimed that the move could happen next summer.

Hazard has previously been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge and his current form is unlikely to dissuade the Blues from considering selling the playmaker.

L’Equipe claims that Hazard believes the reigning English champions lack ambition and his poor relationship with Blues boss Jose Mourinho has led to poor performances this season.

Poor

The transformation in form between the Eden Hazard, who was so impressive last season in Chelsea’s title winning season, to the one who has turned up for the Blues this season has been nothing short of amazing.

Hazard was the special player in the Chelsea team last season, making things happen and being the match-winner on a number of occasions. In the last two seasons Hazard has scored 14 goals and produced ten goals in both campaigns.

However, this season he has scored just once and collected three assists and generally been poor for the Blues. Chelsea boss Mourinho expects his players to work hard for the team and if they do not then the Portuguese tends to drop them, or sell them.

The fact is Hazard seemed to buy into working hard for the team for the last few seasons. At the moment though for whatever reason he is not working as hard as the likes of Willian and Pedro.

The Belgium international found himself dropped to the bench for Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend, but returned to the starting eleven for the Blues goalless draw with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday night.

Talking after the Villa victory Mourinho explained his reasoning for leaving Hazard out saying: “I left out Hazard because are conceding lots of goals. It was a tactical decision. We needed midfield players to be concerned with being solid.

“I continue that way [leaving Hazard out] or he comes in our direction, and tries to play that way. I told players this is not the moment to think about personal situation, or moan, to be selfish.

“This is a moment for the team. I asked them to look at the picture in a different way. I have to try bring results back.”

History

Mourinho has a history of selling players who he does not believe work hard enough for the team. Spanish playmaker Juan Mata was the perfect example. Mourinho sold Mata despite the fact that the Spaniard had been crowned Chelsea Player of the Year in consecutive years.

His reportedly reason was that Mata was not prepared to put in the defensive work, so did not fit into Mourinho’s plans. The sale had mixed results, as Mata has been in good form for Manchester United, but Chelsea also won the Premier League title without the playmaker last season.

Class

The old cliché about class being permanent and form being temporary could fit Hazard’s current situation. No doubt Hazard is a quality player he has proven that during the past few seasons. His form over the past two seasons had reportedly attracted the attention of Real Madrid.

Chelsea has the financial resources to resist any big money bid, but like any player the 24-year-old will have a price. If Mourinho does not see the Belgium international as a key part of his team anymore then he may look to sell him, if of course he is still the Blues boss.

Loss

If Eden Hazard did join Real Madrid then he would not only be a huge loss to Chelsea, but also the Premier League. The English top-flight has been stripped of its star players in recent years as La Liga has increased its profile and quality.

The English top-flight now contains very few players who could be regarded as world-class, but a happy Eden Hazard is definitely one of those players. For me selling Hazard would be a major mistake, but I can certainly understand why he was dropped from the Chelsea team for the Villa game.

Unfortunately with Hazard underperforming and seemingly unhappy at Chelsea there now seems to be a bigger chance that the talented Belgian star could move on in the near future.

Should Chelsea consider selling Eden Hazard?