Former Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard turns down Newcastle United move.
According to El Nacional (h/t Daily Mail), Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard has snubbed a move to Newcastle United this month, claiming that he will only leave for a ‘big’ club, such as Chelsea. This is despite the Spanish club having accepted the Magpies’ offer worth £33.4m (plus £8.3m in add-ons).
Hazard moved to Real in 2019 after a trophy-laden career with Chelsea, but the Belgian superstar has endured a torrid time in the Spanish capital due to injuries and a lack of form. Given this, reports in Spain suggest that club president Florentino Perez is looking to offload the forward this month.
The Blues have long been linked with a reunion with Hazard, who dazzled at Stamford Bridge over his seven-year spell, scoring 110 goals and providing 92 assists in 352 appearances for the club. These numbers look all the more impressive given the dire stats he has put up at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The former Chelsea attacker seems to have fallen down the pecking order at Real, with coach Carlo Ancelotti preferring the young Brazilian duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo ahead of Hazard. The Belgian has been severely underwhelming for the Spanish giants, registering just one assist this season.
With Real looking to make space and fund a move for PSG striker Kylian Mbappe in the summer, Perez is said to have accepted an offer from Newcastle. Magpies coach Eddie Howe is desperate to strengthen his squad this season to escape relegation, and with new owners in place, Newcastle are looking to make moves in January. Getting Hazard would be a statement signing from their mega-rich owners who are keen to rebuild the Tyneside giants.
However, Hazard has turned down a move to Newcastle, with an interest in moving only to a ‘big’ club such as Chelsea. This would work in Real’s favour, as they are interested in signing the Blues’ Reece James and plan to offer Hazard as a makeweight for the England international.
Although Hazard’s return to Stamford Bridge would excite Chelsea fans, the Belgian international’s recent form is a cause of concern. After being used to seeing the 30-year-old dazzle with his performances on the pitch, Hazard looks to be nowhere near the same levels that we saw from him at Chelsea.
The player has also seen himself be replaced by young guns in the Real squad, indicating that his time at the top may be over. The forward has also been injury-prone of late and has not been able to start a string of games in Spain.
With our squad being blessed with top attacking talent, a move for Hazard may not be wise given his recent form and performances for Real since his move from Chelsea. Forever a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, it remains the best option for us to pass on the Belgian, despite constant links of a reunion.
Hazard is not the same player he was when he left London, and with plenty of riches in attack in our current squad, the Belgian should be deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea.
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