3 potential replacements for Eden Hazard at Chelsea

20th November 2016 - Premier League - Middlesbrough v Chelsea - Eden Hazard of Chelsea - Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Premier League leaders Chelsea re-established their ten-point lead at the top courtesy of a 2-1 victory over West Ham on Monday night.

Antonio Conte’s men saw both Tottenham and Manchester City win over the weekend to cut the gap to the leaders, yet goals from Eden Hazard and Diego Costa secured the three points for the Blues, with Manuel Lanzini’s late strike nothing more than a consolation for the Hammers.

It means that Chelsea once again go ten points clear at the top, but with only 11 games left, it’s going to be difficult for any side to stop them winning a fifth title in 12 years.

Despite there still being much to play for between now and May, speculation has already built about who the Blues may look to sign in the summer, and indeed which of their stars could be subject to interest this month.

And one of the latter is Hazard, who has in the last few days been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid after a stellar season at Stamford Bridge, in which he has netted 11 times in 30 games.

So, with Hazard potentially on his way in the summer, Chelsea will have to find someone to compensate for his goals and assists, and thus here are THREE stars who could replace the Belgian at the club…

Marco Reus

Chelsea have in the past few days been informed that they’ll need to stump up £70 million to bring Marco Reus to Stamford Bridge.

Yet with the money they’ll potentially generate from the Hazard sale, the German international is certainly someone they could sign this summer.

The Borussia Dortmund attacker has struggled with injury this season, making just 15 appearances in all competitions, but he has proved in the past to be one of the most talented forwards in Europe.

Reus has netted 82 times in 180 games for the German side, including 23 last term, and has twice been named the Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2012 and 2014.

Clearly, the attacker could go some way to replacing Hazard, and it’s a deal the Blues could strike up with Dortmund this summer.

James Rodriguez

Photo: Offside / Marca

With Real Madrid reportedly wanting Hazard, Chelsea could strike up an agreement so that James Rodriguez comes to Stamford Bridge as part of the deal.

The Colombian captain is out of favour at the Bernabeu, having started just six of their 25 La Liga games so far, and only half of their Champions League clashes.

The 25-year-old, who shot to prominence at the 2014 World Cup, was linked with a move to Chelsea last summer and again in the winter, although no deal ever materialised.

However, with Rodriguez’s playing time becoming even more restricted in the Spanish capital, he’s unlikely to want to stick around and waste time on the sidelines, so a move to England with Conte’s men would make sense for both parties.

Antoine Griezmann

It doesn’t look like Antoine Griezmann will end up at Manchester United in the summer, so Chelsea should seize the chance to land the French international.

The Atletico Madrid man’s future has been far from certain over the last six months or so since his excellent European Championships with his country, in which time he netted six goals to help them reach the final, and it became less clearer when he parted with his agent in September.

However, United boss Jose Mourinho looks set to end his interest in the 25-year-old, who has netted 12 goals in 25 La Liga games this term, due to the potential complications of the deal, which leaves Conte’s Blues with a good chance of landing the attacker.

They have been linked with a move for Griezmann in recent months, and with the promise of Champions League football next season, something Diego Simeone’s men can’t guarantee at present, the lure of Stamford Bridge could be too good to turn down for the in-form attacker.

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