‘No plans to sell Hazard’
Chelsea have no plans to sell Eden Hazard this summer, with new boss Antonio Conte expected to get the best out of the playmaker next season, according to reports.
Hazard has endured a torrid campaign at Stamford Bridge, with the Belgium international yet to score a goal in his 26 Premier League appearances for the club.
The 25-year-old has found the back of the net just twice in 38 matches in all competitions, in stark contrast to the impressive form he displayed for Chelsea last season.
Then, Hazard was voted the double Footballer of the Year as Jose Mourinho’s side won the Premier League.
However, despite reports claiming Chelsea are keen to offload the player for £80m this summer, Sam Wallace revealed that the west London club are in fact keen to keep him at Stamford Bridge.
“He has had a dreadful season, there are no two ways about it,” he said.
“The feeling at Chelsea is that it would be foolish to sell him, he has been the Player of the Year. Twelve months ago he was a very good player and they believe he will be a good player again.
“And it goes back to the point we made earlier about what does a great manager do? Does he come in and buy a whole new team? Or does he work with what he has got and try and improve it?”
Wallace also thinks it is unlikely Chelsea will embark on a massive clear out of players this summer.
However, Wallace says that one of the first tasks Conte – who was recently confirmed as Chelsea’s manager next season – must undertake after taking over at the Bridge will be to try and return Hazard to the levels of last season.
