Eden Hazard could return to the Premier League after the winter World Cup as Carlo Ancelotti plans for life without the Belgium captain.
The 31-year-old has played just three league matches in Spain so far this season but is still set to lead his country in Qatar over the next month of international football. His form has never recovered after first-year injuries derailed his move to Real Madrid and now the £100m man has played more minutes in the Champions League than he has in La Liga.
Hazard has also spent more time on the pitch for Roberto Martinez's Belgium than he has for his club side. It is a situation born from injuries and poor form as the ex-Chelsea winger's dream move ultimately failed miserably. A late resurgence could yet be upon him though.
READ MORE: Full list of Chelsea transfer targets going to Qatar 2022 World Cup amid Boehly scouting mission
With Unai Emery, a Champions League semi-finalist with Villarreal last season, coming to Aston Villa, it is reported that Hazard is one of the players he wants to bring with him to England. The former Arsenal boss has gotten off to a good start at his new club having won both league games in charge.
Emery has former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool attacker Phillipe Coutinho in his armoury but the Brazilian has struggled since shining at the end of last season following a loan move. The deal was made permanent over the summer after he scored five goals and assisted three times in 19 league games. Since then he has failed to register another contribution.
That hasn't stopped Emery hoping to reignite Hazard's career though, as Spanish publication El National write that the former Blues star is one of two players he wants to bring in after the World Cup. Hazard has only scored seven goals in Spain since leaving SW6 in 2019 and his contract isn't up until 2024, but Ancelotti is willing to cut ties with his player.
Although it is reported Hazard would prefer to move to another team playing in Europe and that he wouldn't want to have a massive drop in his wages, with Fede Valverde, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo all ahead of him in the pecking order at Madrid, if he wants to earn consistent game time he may be forced to revaluate his options, especially as a return to Stamford Bridge looks increasingly unlikely.
Graham Potter is trying to rebuild at Chelsea and already has a group of players over 30 with contract dilemmas to resolve and Hazard may well fall into that group. He also has no ties to the current ownership. If Villa were to sign him in January though he would be welcomed back as a hero, much like Diego Costa was.
Chelsea themselves are looking at deals for younger wingers such as Christopher Nkunku or Rafael Leao and Todd Boehly could turn to them in January instead of a return for Hazard.
READ NEXT:
Chelsea fans disagree on Graham Potter verdict as Todd Boehly sent emergency Thomas Tuchel plea
Why Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham could be affected by new Liverpool ownership bid
Why Kai Havertz lost it with Dan Burn as Chelsea frustration comes to fore in loss to Newcastle
Full list of Chelsea players going to Qatar 2022 World Cup with double omission as Gallagher in
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
