Eden Hazard’s departure gift from Chelsea came in the form of two goals plus an assist in Arsenal’s thrashing (4-1) in the Europa League final. Although fans were holding their breath on Hazard’s eventual stay, it’s safe to say that we all knew that would happen. Hazard was destined to play for Real Madrid, and the move materialized weeks after his last game in the blue jersey.
It didn’t come as shocking or disappointing. Eden Hazard gave everything he could to Chelsea. After seven years, 352 games, 110 goals, and 81 assists, you can’t ask more from a player. He signed off in the best possible way and it’s time for Chelsea to move on without him. The only problem is, the Blues’ transfer ban gets in the way.
Hazard’s departure and the transfer ban have left Chelsea in shambles. A betting favourite for the Premier League in the past, Chelsea is currently trailing Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Tottenham with odds in the range of 25/1. Similar to Manchester United, experts and bookies alike aren’t giving the Blues a major shot at the title. Blues fans are aware of it as well – without Hazard and the inability to sign top talent, Chelsea isn’t going to be a betting PL favourite anytime soon. If you want to try your hand at PL betting, use the latest Betfair promo codes at https://www.freebets.co.uk/betfair. There are some enticing deals to be found here so don’t miss on the opportunity to earn a few free bets you can later spend on all the exciting PL betting markets. Apart from outright favourites, you can predict which team goes up or stays down or try to predict the Top 4 teams correctly. PL fans and bettors have a lot of options at their disposal, which also means bigger chances to win.
Chelsea’s chances in the Champions League aren’t better as well. We don’t even expect them to improve considering the fact that the former English champion must rely on its youth this season. The transfer ban was unfortunately not lifted after Chelsea’s appeal, so new manager and club legend Frank Lampard must use Chelsea’s youth to compete in the Premier League. The good news is that he’s ready for it.
But, how does a club replace a player like Hazard? Sure, spending $100 million in today’s crazy transfer market can help, but Chelsea don’t have that commodity. Instead, the club is counting on several players to fill the Hazard-shaped void. That’s where Christian Pulisic comes in.
The young American was signed from Borussia Dortmund earlier this year and has a bright future ahead of him. Still only 20 years old, Pulisic is expected to earn his starting spot and take the Premier League by storm. Sure, you can’t expect him to replace Hazard right away, but his Borussia Dortmund performances have been stunning, to say the last. He’ll need to improve his finishing, but we’re sure that Lampard has big plans for the American player.
Callum Hudson-Odoi is another player who’s expected to replace Hazard. Big things are expected from the England international who’s been linked with a transfer to Bayern Munich. The German champion is very interested in Hudson-Odoi so it remains to be seen if he’s keen on a switch. If he chooses to stay, which would be the right move right now, Hudson-Odoi can be Chelsea’s new star. Coming from the youth ranks of the London club is another big plus. Under Frank Lampard’s tutelage, Hudson-Odoi can be the next big thing coming from England. He’s still only 18 and the talent is there, so don’t be surprised to see him grow up into a superstar forward.
Big things are expected from Aston Villa loanee Tammy Abraham as well. The 21-year old Chelsea product scored an impressive 26 goals in 40 appearances for Villa last year and was in sublime form all year long. Aston Villa is certainly interested in signing the striker, but we think it would be a mistake to let him go without giving him a run in the first team. Frank Lampard can turn Tammy Abraham a deadly weapon in the Premier League and he’s certainly earned a spot on the team.
So, even though Hazard is history and the Blues can’t sign new players this summer, the future is bright. Chelsea has many talented players on loan at other clubs, and with players such as Abraham, Hudson-Odoi, and Mason Mount, we feel that Chelsea should be excited about the future.
