Hasselbaink: Hazard stay more imperative than ever for Chelsea

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink reckons it is essential more than ever that Chelsea keep ahold of Eden Hazard in light of the recent transfer ban imposed by FIFA on the west London club.

FIFA have banned the Blues from making player signings for the next two transfer windows after football’s world governing body found the Stamford Bridge outfit guilty of breaching rules about signing overseas players under the age of 18.

Blues adjudged to have signed 29 players illegally

After a thorough investigation by FIFA, Chelsea have been found to have illegally signed at least 29 underage foreign players. Apart from the ban, they have also been ordered to pay a fine of £460,800.

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With Sarri’s position at the club already under intense scrutiny, and having been recently subjected to an investigation by UEFA over alleged racist chanting by their fans, the transfer ban comes as a fresh blow to Chelsea’s increasingly tumultuous season.

The club has appealed the decision yet if the ban is upheld, Chelsea will struggle to add depth to their squad as the club regularly dive into the transfer market in search for reinforcements under Roman Abramovich.

Hazard contract becomes of increasing importance

This recent development at the club adds a further dimension to the situation of Hazard, whose current contract runs until the summer of 2020. Unless the Belgian superstar signs fresh terms long been on the negotiation table, Chelsea would find themselves in a difficult position and former Blues forward Hasselbaink thinks this would emphasise Hazard’s value to the club more than ever.

“Even more so, because they can’t replace him, or even get somebody who they can work on to become as good as Hazard,” said the Chelsea favourite. “I know they have already bought (Christian) Pulisic [from Borussia Dortmund], but they will need to add more if they lose Hazard.

“It is about Hazard believing in Chelsea – and them persuading him to sign a longer contract and believing in the club.”

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Yet while the transfer ban is generally bad news for the Stamford Bridge outfit, an opportunity for the club’s up-and-coming prospects had risen in its stead. Academy graduates like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek may finally get their chance to establish themselves as major fixtures in the club’s senior squad.

Transfer ban ‘good news for the younger players’

“It is not great news for Chelsea, especially with how things are going at this moment in time,” continued Hasselbaink, who made well over 100 appearances for the Blues in a four-year spell.

“Chelsea need to strengthen the team but, on the other hand, you can spin it – it is, in a way, good news for the younger players.

“For Callum Hudson-Odoi and also for (Ruben) Loftus-Cheek, who now will get chances. They [Chelsea] will have to look at their youth if this is ban is upheld.”

Featured image: Aleksandr Osipov [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons