Chelsea centre-back David Luiz has revealed his belief that Callum Hudson-Odoi has what it takes to replace Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard has been Chelsea’s star performer for the best part of seven years. The prospect of heading into a season without the Belgian is a worrying one.
While Hazard has been injured or unavailable, Chelsea have faltered and lacked in quality in the absence of who is comfortably our best player.
It very much looks as though we’re set to embark on life without Hazard, which means it’s time to begin the search for a new heir to the throne.
David Luiz believes that Chelsea already have the man on their books who can fill the void Hazard will leave. He’s quoted by Squawka saying:
“This is part of the cycle of life: some stories finish and others begin. We have some main talents at the club to replace him, and opportunities for many players to be like Eden. Callum is our player from the academy, a boy with talent who has an opportunity to be a legend one day.”
“He’s known this club since he was young, and he has the talent one day to be like Eden. So it’s a new history for Callum, a new story. It didn’t start so well for him because of the injury, but it is time for him to improve in other sides [of his game].â€
Hudson-Odoi certainly has the potential to scale the heights Hazard has. Time is on his side to develop into the player he’s destined to be.
He’s very young right now, though, and giving him the responsibility of replacing Hazard seems like unnecessary pressure.
