Chelsea are reportedly considering a surprising move to bring back former Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard, despite the closure of the summer transfer window, as reported by the Daily Express.
According to the newspaper, Chelsea believes their squad lacks experienced players and are planning a move to re-sign the Belgian forward, potentially having him play alongside long-serving Brazilian defender Thiago Silva if the transfer goes through.
Hazard is presently without a club after mutually terminating his contract with Real Madrid. Despite having one year left on his contract with the La Liga giants, Hazard joined the Spanish giants from Chelsea in 2019.
The 32-year-old made 76 appearances, scored seven goals, and provided 12 assists during his disappointing tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium under Carlo Ancelotti.
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Despite the disappointments, he managed to win several titles with Real Madrid, including two La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
However, his performance declined significantly last season, as he only played in 10 matches and contributed to three goals. Persistent injuries and a lack of form prevented the versatile forward from securing a regular starting position at Madrid.
Hazard was willing to remain in Spain until the end of his contract with the club next summer. Still, Madrid aimed to part ways with the Belgian player due to his substantial weekly wage.
Chelsea possesses one of the Premier League’s youngest squads, and the potential return of Hazard could relieve some of the pressure on the club’s young forwards, particularly summer signing Nicolas Jackson.
Jackson’s Chelsea career hasn’t started off on the best foot, with the Senegal international missing a clear scoring opportunity in their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Despite this, the 22-year-old has featured in all four of Chelsea’s league games and has one goal to his name.
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Although Hazard doesn’t play as a centre-forward, he possesses the ability to be one of the most threatening attackers in Europe.
During his previous stint at Stamford Bridge, he notched 110 goals and provided 92 assists in 352 matches across all competitions.
The former Lille star played a crucial role in Chelsea’s success, helping them secure several titles, including the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and UEFA Europa League.
While the 32-year-old has faced challenges in recent years, a return to Chelsea could potentially rekindle his passion for the game and help him rediscover his top form.
