This summer could be a highly complicated one for Chelsea. However, before the summer the Blues have the small matter of the Europa League final against Arsenal on Wednesday night in Baku, which they are favourites to win.
The Blues have also already booked their place in the Champions League for next season by virtue of finishing third-place in the Premier League. It should be considered a successful season for the club from south west London.
However, it seems there are major storm clouds on the horizon for the Blues. Not only are they banned from bringing any players in for two transfer windows, but they also lose key personnel this summer too.
Hazard will play his last game for Chelsea this evening
The move would come as little surprise, as the 28-year-old has long been a target of the Spanish club. He also revealed at the end of the Premier League season that he had made his feelings clear to the club about his future. Reportedly that decision was to leave the club.
A mooted fee of around £130million is doing the rounds in the European publications. Hazard departure would be a big blow to Chelsea, as not only are the Blues losing a top player, they will unable to sign a replacement until next summer as it stands.
Is Sarri set for Juventus?
There has been a lot of talk about the future of Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri. Some speculation even claimed that the Blues would dispense with the Italian head coach after the Europa League final, no matter the outcome of the game.
It is now reportedly likely that Juventus will come in and end the Italian’s time in England by appointing him as their head coach. The move back to his homeland looks to be one he could not refuse.
Very few at Chelsea have bought into Sarri’s football philosophy, despite the team performing relatively well this season. The Blues made a positive enough start to life under the former-Napoli boss.
However, things quickly turned sour and by the middle of the campaign, many fans were calling for the dismissal of the Italian. The Italian has at times seemed frustrated and the incident in training yesterday may have been his frustration boiling over.
Europa League final the ideal farewell
There is no contest to who the Blues fans will miss more out of Hazard and Sarri if both leave the Blues this summer. The Belgian forward will go down as a modern Chelsea great. He has already stated that the Europa League final will be the ideal farewell if he is to leave the club. It will only be a good farewell if they lift the trophy, though.
For all the criticism of Sarri, he has achieved his objective at Chelsea. The fact that one of the biggest clubs and best teams in Europe want him as their head coach shows that his reputation is still very much still intact.
Arsenal will be out to spoil Hazard’s farewell and seem confident of achieving a victory. It could prove to be a truly fascinating encounter between two very good Premier League teams.
Will Eden Hazard end his time at Chelsea by winning the Europa League?
