Chelsea preparing club record bid to sign their new Eden Hazard

When it comes to true Premier League greats, Chelsea fans have been spoiled over the last two decades.

Whether it be Petr Cech in between the sticks, John Terry leading the backline, Frank Lampard scoring goal after goal from the middle of the park or Didier Drogba doing what he did best, the Blues faithful have seen some truly legendary stars represent them.

Another icon who was just a little less successful than the aforementioned names but at least as magical was Eden Hazard.

The Belgian wizard remains one of the most gifted players to ever play for Chelsea, and if reports are to be believed, the club may well be looking to sign someone who could be their next Hazard.

Chelsea plotting move to sign their next Hazard

While the team haven’t been performing well enough over the last month or so, new boss Liam Rosenior has a squad full of talented players at Chelsea.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Reece James and Cole Palmer, for example, would likely get into most other top Premier League teams.

However, the Blues also have a lot of young, promising, but largely unproven gems in the squad, and if the club want to win something significant this year or next, they need to add more proven world-class talent to the side.

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Fortunately for the fans and Rosenior, that appears to be the plan.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are very interested in Vinícius Júnior.

In fact, while the likes of Arsenal and sides from the Saudi Pro League are credited with an interest in the Brazilian, the report states that the Blues have moved ahead of everyone.

Moreover, it has been revealed that if rumours of the player not renewing his deal with Real Madrid prove true, there is talk of the West Londoners submitting a monster €150m offer, about £130m, which would be a club record.

Even with a potential price that steep, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Vini Jr this year, as he’s a proven winner and could become the club’s next Hazard.

Why Vinícius Júnior would be Chelsea’s next Hazard

So, the first thing to think about here is what it was that made Chelsea fans fall in love with Hazard.

On the one hand, he could be an effective winger who both scored and assisted goals.

In fact, during his time with the Blues, the Belgian superstar racked up an impressive tally of 110 goals and 88 assists.

However, while that output certainly played a part in the 35-year-old’s popularity, it wasn’t the main reason the fans love him; that was the way he played football.

The La Louvière-born dynamo was a pure joy to watch; he was the sort of winger who would get fans up on their feet either with a piece of impressive trickery or a stunning shot from distance.

Even if he didn’t score a goal, you were always guaranteed to be entertained when watching Hazard, and to some extent, it’s the same for Vini Jr.

The Brazilian international is not someone who waits for something to happen on the pitch; he is more often than not the one making something happen.

Whether it’s mazy runs from the halfway line, curling efforts from just outside the penalty area or an audacious piece of skill that leaves opposition defenders chasing shadows, fans know that they are going to get a show from the former 25-year-old when they see him come out to play.

Unsurprisingly, this is also reflected in his underlying numbers.

According to FBref, the São Gonçalo-born superstar ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and touches in the opposition’s penalty area, the top 4% for successful take-ons, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Finally, on top of being an entertainer, the former Flamengo gem is also an output machine, racking up 111 goals and 91 assists in 348 games for Real Madrid, which helps justify Thierry Henry’s previous claim that he is one of “the best in the world.”

Ultimately, it won’t be cheap or easy, but Chelsea should do all they can to sign Vini Jr this year, as not only would he add so much quality to the team, but he could also be their new Hazard.

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