Transfer News: Former Blues hero unlikely to return to Stamford Bridge in January

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard doesn’t view return to Blues as an ‘option’ in January

According to Marca (h/t football.london), Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard doesn’t view a return to Stamford Bridge this month as an ‘option’, despite rejecting a recent proposal from Newcastle United.

The Belgian is reported to have turned down a proposal from newly-rich Newcastle United, despite reports in Spain claiming that a deal had been ‘accepted’. The Magpies have been taken over by mega-rich Saudi owners this season and are trying to sign players that they believe can help them survive being relegated from the Premier League.

Hazard has had a torrid time at Real Madrid since his move from Chelsea in 2019. A spate of injuries and a loss of form have seen him relegated to the bench under manager Carlo Ancelotti this season. Despite this, the winger himself has decided to stick it out until the end of the season and see if his fortunes change.

The Los Blancos are open to listening to offers for Hazard in the region of £23m, with the Spanish club keen to cut their losses on the Belgium international. `With his future at the Santiago Bernabeu unclear, the attacker appears to have adopted a wait and watch approach until the end of the season.

Despite him being constantly linked with a return to Stamford Bridge, it is not something that the Blues appear keen to pursue. Hazard’s high wages have not only hampered his chances of departing Real but limited the list of sides who can afford him.

Hazard moved to Real Madrid in 2019 at the height of his powers but never failed to kick on at the Santiago Bernabeu. He never hit the same heights he did at his time at Chelsea, which made him a club legend at the Bridge. Unfortunately for the Belgian, his form has only declined and he appears to be a mere shadow of the star he once was.

Hazard’s return to Stamford Bridge would certainly invoke a lot of nostalgia for Chelsea fans, but the bitter truth is that his recent form is nowhere close to earning him a move to the Blues. The Belgian departed our club as a legend, but the current version of Hazard fails to do justice to his legacy.

The 31-year-old has claimed that Chelsea is not an option for him during the January transfer window, but it is also true that we would not be considering him a serious option in attack. The player has seen himself be replaced by young guns in the Real squad, which may indicate that his time at the top may be over.

More Chelsea News

• Romano: ‘No chance’ for 32-year-old Chelsea target to leave Serie A club in January
• Former Chelsea hero turns down winter switch to PL rivals amidst Chelsea reunion rumours
• “Great club”- La Liga ace’s agent opens up on Chelsea interest amidst potential winter exit

With our squad being blessed with top tier attacking talent, an immediate concern for us is to sign a defensive replacement given our injury crisis at the back. The winger’s recent credentials and performances do him little good in claiming a place in our current attack.

The sad truth is that the Belgian would be deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea, even if a move materialises. It would be best for both the player and the club to ignore the chance of a reunion. Nostalgia is well and good but both the player and the club appear to be heading in different directions and a forced marriage of sorts is not the best way forward.