Why Chelsea must consider Nicolas Pepe as a replacement for Eden Hazard

COMMENT By Seye Omidiora Follow on Twitter

"I sign for the winner of the Champions League."

After a long saga of transfers involving many major European clubs, Eden Hazard finally made the decision to settle in Chelsea a week after its success in the Champions League against Bayern Munich in May 2012.

I sign for the winner of the league of champions.

– Eden Hazard (@ hazardeden10) May 28, 2012

Frankly, acquiring the talented Lille star, who had been compared to a hybrid of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, was a blow to the West London club, who beat his rival Manchester United to his signature.

The Belgian signature has somewhat culminated in a project in Cobham, in which the club was looking for talented young players around the world in order to see them grow together in the hope that they 're going to do it. would face for titles, which ostensibly meant a change of Roman Abramovich's modus operandi. .

Purchases made around this time are an indication: Ramires, David Luiz, Oriol Romeu, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata, Cesar Azpilicueta, Victor Moses and Oscar all signed for the side of the bridge. Stamford during a given period. two years from 2010 to 2012, when Mohamed Salah joined the ranks in January 2014.

Unfortunately, the dysfunctional rooted in the way the Blues operated made them lose this design along the way and an overabundance of promising players who signed between 18 and 23 years left without really realizing their potential.

While the two-time Premier League champion is about to leave the club this summer, Real Madrid is closely tied to his signature. The club could go back to its previous strategy and consider Nicolas Pepe.

Coincidentally, as Hazard was back in 2012, the right winger also plays for The mastiffs and showed that it was not surprising a season that many predicted after its breakthrough in 2017/18.

The widower scored 13 goals and collected four badists during a tumultuous campaign in which the Northers narrowly escaped relegation as they finished the season in 17th position.

He scored 16 goals and 8 badists in 25 games this year and finished third in the scorers' table behind Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain (18). and Edinson Cavani (17) – and above Neymar (13).

Certainly, the Ivorian international has played more matches than the aforementioned trio, but his return is always exceptional, both for a widower than for another in a team that was fighting against the fall of the last term.

They scored 42 times in the league and Pepe contributed directly to 24 goals, or 57% of their goals. Hazard had 22 goals in the league (12 goals and 10 badists), 49% of Chelsea's 45 goals.

While the senior officers of West London have tried without conviction to continue their grbadroots-focused club policy, summer is their best chance to reorganize a rebadured attack.

For years, Hazard, Willian and Pedro Rodriguez were the main widows of the Blues, responsible for scoring and creating for various singers.

They have failed for years to refresh their front line – with only the number nine who changes hands a few times – and they lost the element of surprise, which resulted in insipid parries.

Is there also a feeling of complacency among widowers, convinced not to lose their place in the team?

It is imperative to return to their previous pre-project plan as they seek to reorganize an attack that has lost its vitality. As the three senior strikers have less than 18 months of contract, it is imperative that the club begin to consider a succession plan.

Christian Pulisic, on loan to Borussia Dortmund, is already five times British champion. The talented Callum Hudson-Odoi (who has less than two years of contract) is now available within the club. to be as intimidating as it seems.

Wantaway Hudson-Odoi is considering its future because of a lack of playing time, but selling more experienced heads could convince him to stay.

Choose to choose a comparable marquee signature if Hazard clubs change their fanfare, but may not solve the club's problems.

From the financial point of view, Pepe, who would still be three years old with his current contract this summer, should not cost as much as the man he could potentially replace, to give Maurizio Sarri a little leeway. seems to be strengthening elsewhere, but the midfield is another area of ​​concern.

N'Golo Kante is the most titled midfielder in the league, and it is the lack of contributions from other heads that has handicapped him.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is perhaps Sarri's top scorer among midfielders in all competitions, but the fitness problems of the British international often place him at the table. Ross Barkley remains inconsistent and seemingly unable to hit near Everton's form, while Mateo Kovacic could leave at the end of the season once his loan is completed.

Obviously, a little more quality is needed in this area of ​​the team, and the purchase of Pepe could have positive repercussions as the team seeks to evolve.

Chelsea may have gone through dark days during Sarri's tenure, but not everything is dark in West London.

At the end of what appears to be a long tunnel, Pepe could be a pledge of promise for the besieged Blues.