Hazard linked with Chelsea for possible return

Although the story seems to crop up every transfer window, the reactions, feelings and emotions change like the wind. Just the thought of seeing a Chelsea icon back in the royal blue at Stamford Bridge is enough to get the fans excited.

Todd Boehly is already closing in on a triple deal as Chelsea prepare to announce Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly becomes their big-name centre back target, and Nathan Ake makes his own return to the club, but no feeling comes as close to butterflies in the stomach as a loved player returning back to his spiritual home.

This trio almost certainly won't be it for the incomings, let alone the endless possibilities with players leaving the club this summer as well. It promised to be busy as soon as Boehly and Clearlake were announced as the new owners, and it hasn't disappointed so far.

One thing they haven't managed to change from the Roman Abramovich transfer saga log is the return of a king. Just like it felt that Eden Hazard was forever being linked with a move away from SW6 as soon as he signed for Chelsea in 2012, the Belgian is equally as drawn to a dramatic return back to London each window as well.

Almost undoubtedly the Blues best signing under Abramovich in the last 10 years, Hazard left the club in 2019 after his best-ever season, and the deal to take him to Spain, which was inevitable given his dream to play for Real Madrid, was worth over £100m. That was ultimately the parting gift of Marina Granovskaia, as Hazard has missed more than 50 matches over three years in Madrid already due a string of injuries.

The Belgian has also been reported as being unhappy in Spain and is commonly linked with a move away from the club. That time has come once again.

Spanish journalist Sergio Santos has said on Twitter, "Hazard is on the market. Despite his improvement in recent months, Madrid will make it easy for him to leave if any club shows interest. Ancelotti will try to recover his best version if he stays... but he has given the OK to his sale if offers arrive."

Hazard didn't get onto the pitch for in Madrid's Champions League final victory over Liverpool, nor did he play a minute of either quarter-final leg against Chelsea earlier in the campaign due to injury. He managed just 83 minutes in the European competition in total and couldn't register a single league goal either.

Although the thought of Hazard coming back to Chelsea is appealing for nostalgic purposes, unless there is a major and unexpected revival, he wouldn't be able to add the same impact that Thomas Tuchel needs from his attackers and would only clog up the wage bill.