Though they remain in the top-four race despite their recent defeat to Everton and are still in the Europa League, it looks like Chelsea could easily miss out on Champions League football next season.
And that could have serious ramifications on the future of Eden Hazard as the Belgian continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Hazard is said to be one of the Spanish giants’ top targets for the summer transfer window (Telegraph), and Graeme Souness believes the club’s difficulties this season could now force them to cash in on their most prized possession.
“If you are Hazard, you are one of the best players in the world, and you are thinking I’m now arguably at the peak of my career and I want to be winning the big trophies,” Souness was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.
“Will that happen at Chelsea? I don’t think so. They look like they will struggle to get into the top four. Chelsea have a big decision to make, do they cash in or let him walk in 15 months. It’s difficult times ahead for Chelsea.”
With his contract set to expire at the end of next season, as Souness has touched on, keeping hold of Hazard until then instead of selling him in a few months time is certainly one route they can go down.
And while financially, it makes little sense, from a footballing point of view, there is still much logic behind doing the above.
For example, if the Blues are struggling to qualify for the Champions League now, how are they going to do it the following campaign without their best player and biggest goal threat?
The current transfer ban hanging over them complicates things, too. As a result of it, should Hazard indeed leave for the Santiago Bernabeu, then Chelsea could so easily be left with an attack of Willian and Pedro, which no supporter wants to see.
Willian only has three Premier League goals to his name this term, while Pedro often looks past his best.
Christian Pulisic is, of course, set to join up with the Blues in the summer. But given how Maurizio Sarri has overlooked Callum Hudson-Odoi, who could also end up leaving at the end of the campaign, it would not be a surprise if the USA international received the same treatment.
Losing Hazard looks inevitable, but letting that happen now could quite possibly plunge Chelsea into mediocrity.
