England legend Chris Waddle reckons Chelsea will struggle to replace star attacker Eden Hazard if he leaves Stamford Bridge this summer.
Belgium international Hazard has established himself as one of the best-attacking players in European Football since joining Chelsea from Lille in 2012, with the 27-year-old scoring 85 goals and providing 54 assists in 224 Premier League appearances.
Despite the Blues upcoming transfer ban which would prevent them from signing a replacement, Hazard continues to be heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, where he would link up with his childhood hero Zinedine Zidane.
Hazard has enjoyed his most productive ever season for Chelsea this campaign, and Waddle has admitted that the Blues will find it difficult to find a replacement for the talismanic playmaker.
19 goals. ⚽️
16 assists. ????@HazardEden10, a worthy winner of the @YokohamaCFC Player of the Year! ✨ #CFCAwards19 pic.twitter.com/IykbE0hL8y— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 10, 2019
”Chelsea, if they lose Hazard, I’ve got to say, a massive loss,” Waddle told The Football Faithful Podcast.
”How do you replace Eden Hazard? Without doubt one of the most creative, best players in the Premier League.
”In terms of replacing him, I’m sure they might have something in their scouting system lined up, but it’s gonna have to be one hell of a player to be better than Eden Hazard.”
Eden Hazard is Chelsea's Player of the Year ????
He also won their Goal of the Year award for this brilliant effortpic.twitter.com/CQPK0ThSiH
— GOAL (@goal) May 10, 2019
