When all’s said and done, those of a Chelsea persuasion may well look back at the 2024/25 campaign as one of progress and a return to that title-winning feeling.
The Blues are nailed-on favourites to lift the Conference League trophy next month, having also put themselves in the mix for a return to the Champions League after two years away, fifth in the Premier League but with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa snapping at their heels.
It’s all to play for across these closing weeks, and Enzo Maresca will certainly hope that his team’s talisman, Cole Palmer, can rediscover his form in front of goal after going 17 matches without finding the back of the net.
Chelsea are understood to be gearing up for a big summer, one which could elevate Stamford Bridge back to the forefront of English and European football.
While a striker, centre-back and maybe a goalkeeper too are all priority positions for BlueCo, signing the right silky, right-footed winger could go a long way toward returning to the top.
A player, perhaps, in a similar vein to Eden Hazard.
Why Chelsea need their next Hazard
Hazard is one of the greatest wingers in Chelsea’s history, in the Premier League’s history. The stylish Belgian arrived off the back of a Ligue 1 title triumph with Lille in 2012, signing in a deal worth £32m, aged just 21.
His fleet-footed bursts up and down the left channel, the way the ball stuck to him as if glued; Hazard was a phenomenon, scoring 110 goals and supplying 78 assists across 352 appearances.
Money well spent, not least because he finally departed after winning the Europa League in 2018, joining Real Madrid in a staggering £130m transfer.
It’s saddening to see that he fell by the wayside in Spain, ended up retiring at the age of 32 after posting just seven goals across 76 Los Blancos features.
Of course, Hazard isn’t just fondly remembered for his tricks and flicks; the left-sided forward, who former Manchester United star Ander Herrera once said was “the best player I have played against,” led Chelsea to six major honours across his seven seasons.
Hazard has earned his place alongside the club’s legends, winning two Premier League trophies and two Europa League titles to match, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Chelsea could certainly make use of a new winger on his level, and they may well find one this summer, with Todd Boehly’s transfer committee lining up a mammoth bid for one of the most exciting up-and-comers in the game.
Chelsea leading race for top talent
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are ramping up their efforts to sign Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz, who has been all the rage in Turin this season.
In fact, it’s been revealed that the west Londoners are leading the race right now, pushing the hardest to get the deal done despite registered interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool.
Juventus don’t want to let their prized prospect go and have retorted to sniffing suitors with demands of a €100m (£87m) payment, should Yildiz, 19, be allowed to leave.
However, the fifth-placed Old Lady are in the thick of a fight for a place in next year’s Champions League, and should they fail, the Blues will be well placed to swoop.
What Kenan Yildiz would bring to Chelsea
Yildiz hasn’t been performing at the highest level for long, but he’s got the minerals to become a bona fide superstar and could prove to be Chelsea’s poster boy over the coming years.
He could emulate Hazard as a star man in the Premier League, bringing his own brand of intensity and technical skill.
As per FBref, Yildiz ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers performing in Serie A this season for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive passes and progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for tackles per 90.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
His displays drew comparisons to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia by the data-driven site, before the Georgian artist transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in January.
Clearly profiled in a similar mould to Hazard, Chelsea fans would surely get excited if the owners managed to orchestrate a deal.
His alliance of properties create something complete and singular in its strength. Analyst Ben Mattinson has lauded the Turkey international for his “magic” talent, but more gushingly, the Turkish native’s former coach, Sokyan Baskar, has made the bold claim that his protégé is “more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo.”
He’s also shown himself to be positionally dynamic, another string to the bow and one which Maresca will delight in adding to his fold.
Left winger
24
4
2
Attacking midfield
13
2
3
Right winger
7
2
0
There’s no doubt that Yildiz needs to work on his prolificness, but that’s hardly a concern at this maiden stage, not when he’s firing across every other cylinder.
Juventus have actually struggled for purchase in attacking phases this term, ranking seventh in Serie A for xG (expected goals). Dusan Vlahovic is their top scorer in the division, with just nine goals to his name.
Still, Yildiz has made his mark, scoring six goals but missing only four big chances, as per Sofascore, which denoted a natural composure and clinical edge. Moreover, he’s averaging 1.5 key passes per game while proving relentless in the duel.
Hazard joined Chelsea at a young age on a rather sizeable fee, something that could not be replicated with the signing of Yildiz, a “perfectly two-footed” winger, as said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, whose skilful movements and prodigious technical level suggests that he could be moulded into Maresca’s very own version of Hazard.
Better than Sesko: Chelsea leading the race to sign "phenomenal" CF
Chelsea appear to have moved ahead in the race to sign a player who Enzo Maresca loves.
2 ByEthan LambApr 26, 2025
