Rumours continue to circulate that Real Madrid will try and sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea in the summer.
The Belgium international will only have a year left on his contract by the next transfer window and he is believed to be keen on a move to the Spanish capital.
Hazard also revealed that he has made a decision about his future but did not elaborate on whether that would be to stay at Stamford Bridge or leave.
The 28-year-old would clearly be an asset to the LaLiga club but there is certainly a case for not signing him.
Money would not be an issue for Real Madrid, it is thought that a bid in excess of £100million would be needed to prise him away.
What if the Spanish giants already have someone at the club who can fill the void left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Enter Vinicius Junior – the 18-year-old who has become a regular starter under current manager Santiago Solari and has put in impressive performances in some important games.
Here is the case for and against signing Hazard in the summer.
For
You will get a world-class player at the peak of his game. He is a player who can provide you goals and assists from the left.
Hazard is on course for his best Premier League season ever and has 12 goals already in 27 appearances. His best return was in the 2016/17 season with 16 goals.
Ronaldo’s absence, since leaving for Juventus, has definitely been felt and the fact they are eight points behind Barcelona in the table will hurt.
The Portuguese man was never replaced by Madrid in the summer and those high up, and the fans, will expect a big marquee signing as a signal of their intent.
Hazard could be the Galactico they crave and it will be a big statement to bring another of the Premier League’s best talents to Spain.
The prospect of an attacking trio of Hazard, Benzema and Bale is mouth-watering.
Against
Hazard is 28 and you may get another four seasons of him being at his peak, five if you are lucky.
Vinicius Junior is just 18 and if he is as good as people believe he can be then you may get a decade, or more, of brilliance from him.
Such was Madrid’s confidence in the potential of the Brazilian, they paid £38.7million for him when he was 16 and had only played 17 minutes of senior football.
He has four goals this season since making his debut in September and has developed a good understanding with Karim Benzema.
He is clearly a work in progress but he has the potential to be an elite level player having come on leaps and bounds this campaign.
talkSPORT’s Spanish football reporter, Lee Roden, has been impressed with what he has seen from the young winger.
He said: “End product is clearly the area that needs the most work… If he can add better finishing to his game – and graft on the training ground will help with that – then the teenager will possess all of the tools necessary to be an elite level winger.
“Importantly, Vinicius appears to already have the mental side down. Decision making, maturity, restraint – arguably the toughest traits to acquire – they’re all there.”
He also showed his potential with a superb display in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final with Barcelona.
Verdict
Madrid risk losing Vinicius Junior if they decide to sign Eden Hazard in the summer.
With the development the 18-year-old has shown this season then they should be confident of giving him the time to develop.
Players like Hazard do not come onto the transfer market very often and with the £100million Ronaldo money burning a hole in their pocket they may look to make a marquee signing.
Junior has the potential to be their star for the next decade to come.