Eden Hazard: Chelsea may have to sell forward - Steve Clarke

Last updated on 20 May 2018.From the section Chelsea292

FA Cup: Chelsea need to improve if we are to win more trophies - Eden Hazard

Chelsea may need to sell forward Eden Hazard "to help fund other transfers", says ex-assistant boss Steve Clarke.

Hazard, 27, was the match-winner as the Blues beat Manchester United 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

However, a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League means no Champions League football next season and Clarke told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek the club must "rebuild" over the summer.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has also urged the board to invest in the squad.

"We'll see after the World Cup whether I am a Chelsea player for next year," said 26-year-old Belgium international Courtois, who is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer.

"You see how Manchester City and Manchester United are spending and working.

"If we want to aim for the top, we should do the same - obviously within the limits of what's possible.

"We'll see what's going on and I am sure the board will do what needs to be done."

Chelsea lifted the FA Cup for the eighth time on Saturday thanks to Belgium forward Hazard's first-half penalty, which he had won by being fouled by Phil Jones.

Hazard, who has two years left on his contract, joined Chelsea from Lille in 2012 and won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award as they won the title in 2015.

But Clarke, a former Chelsea defender and assistant manager between 2004 and 2008, thinks it is "possible" the Belgian will leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

"You can always look to replace players," said Clarke, now manager of Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.

"They come and go, they always move on. The club is the most important thing.

"They have to rebuild that squad a little bit. It wasn't good enough to be in the top four. They have got a lot of work to do over the summer.

"To help fund other transfers for the club this summer maybe they do have to sell Hazard."

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292 comments

Comment posted by Edward, at 12:22 20 May 2018
"2. Posted by Big Mac on
1 minute ago
'said the 26-year-old Belgium international, who is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer'

Four sentences later...

'Hazard, who has two years left on his contract'

If you're going to regurgitate tabloid drivel, at least get someone to proof read it for inconsistencies."

The first comment was about Courtois and the second about Hazard...
Comment posted by thomossparrowlegs, at 12:27 20 May 2018
Maybe they could keep some of the loan players at the club long enough to actually assess what they've got and recruit a manager who can develop talent. If they had done that a decade back they could have had a front three of Hazard, Lukaku and Salah.
Comment posted by JohnW, at 12:45 20 May 2018
The Premiership is a giant wealth distribution scheme in reverse. Taking money from the poor (the average supporter buying season tickets, extortionate Sky subscriptions, cheap nasty nylon replica shirts) and giving it to the rich (the dim-witted, obscenely wealthy, ill-disciplined, tattooed, mercenary players) and their equally unpleasant agents, managers and owners. Somebody has to say it!!
Comment posted by TheNightmanCometh, at 12:26 20 May 2018
Nice to see Hazard finally turn up at the end of the season to put himself in the shop window again.
Comment posted by DantheManinaPan, at 12:23 20 May 2018
Surely keeping Hazard is worth more than trying to find replacements...

Are they really going to be able to use the Hazard money to improve their team?

Possibly, yes, but also likely they'll end up spreading the cash on fringe players like Barkley, Drinkwater, Zappacosta.

Hazard is very tough to replace!
Comment posted by CM07, at 12:24 20 May 2018
In reply to post 2

You might want to read the article again a bit slower... that's a quote from Courtois who is a 26 year old Belgium international and who is out of contract next summer.
Comment posted by BuffaloPhil, at 12:17 20 May 2018
Big gamble to sell Hazard. He's currently their only world-class player. If he goes, they absolutely must get it right with the new players.
Comment posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 14:07 20 May 2018
The BBC were almost apologizing for United not winning the Cup yesterday. Pesky Russians spoiling the American sports owners day out. More sanctions. The first thing they start shouting about is Conte leaving, Hazard being sold. Predictable twaddle,
Comment posted by commak, at 12:24 20 May 2018
First sentence related to Courtois, the second Hazard.
Comment posted by User0389601199, at 13:20 20 May 2018
What is this rubbish? Pure speculation and an opinion from one man and the BBC reports it as 'news'? Tabloid journalism from our once greatly respected national broadcaster.
Comment posted by Jimbo46, at 12:29 20 May 2018
@15
Plus Kevin de Bruyne
Comment posted by I love Fergie, at 15:10 20 May 2018
Well done Thatcham beating Stockton 1-0 in the FA Vase

BBC totally fail to report this national cup final – BBC are an absolute national disgrace.
Comment posted by Alistair, at 13:05 20 May 2018
Everything positive is about Utd, They deserved to win, CFC have to sell Hazard etc. However, we won the cup. Utd didn't. Get over yourselves.
Comment posted by JimmyC, at 15:45 20 May 2018
I wonder how much more debt Abramovich will load onto Chelsea. He hasn’t just given money to the club, he has loaned it, and the balance sheet shows a loan due to RA of 1.1billion, and that’s before the new stadium. If he ever decides he wants to do something else, the club is going to owe him billions that they can’t pay. Unsustainable. Could easily finish the club
Comment posted by fuzzyduck, at 12:24 20 May 2018
You need to learn and read Big Mac. They are talking about Courtois in the first sentence.
Comment posted by chelseabill, at 16:33 20 May 2018
It's all over for Chelsea. Two trophies under Conte's reign. An owner who investing in a new stadium.Who still hasn't walked out like ABC's prophesized. I think most Chelsea supporters don't mind this huge collapse you are talking about.
Comment posted by Reverend_Elrick_Ambogou, at 13:11 20 May 2018
I'm sure the Kilmarnock manager has a great insight into Chelsea's current transfer policies. Definitely headline news. Thank you yet again BBC.
Comment posted by frankie, at 12:42 20 May 2018
The minute any big club sells their best player and he is their best player ur on the road to decline
I’m not being harsh here but the day United sold Ronaldo and Tevez went to city u just knew replacing 80 goals and that talent at that time was tantamount to disaster .
The Glazers debt was the big cause of it and whilst Fergie worked miracles with much lesser talent the damage was done
Comment posted by Gerry, at 13:17 20 May 2018
The BBC is clearly still smarting that Conte wasn't sacked on Day 1 of this season, they have vocalised his sacking all season and he's still there. One day he will go and they will be right, but not today. In revenge the usual thing, find some ex Chelsea player who didn't cut it as manager hiding in Scotland and make a headline of something he said about the best player leaving. Poor journalism!
Comment posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 14:11 20 May 2018
Chelsea should have had two penalties yesterday. That's a real truth. Ref. bottled the second one.