Chelsea: Dream transfer targets to buy with an Eden Hazard-sized pile of cash

5. Gabe Henderson: Leon Bailey or Memphis Depay

Rumor has it there are two possible deals that would see Hazard move to Madrid: a straight cash-player swap that would see Chelsea get £100 million plus, or Chelsea get Isco and x million pounds for Hazard.

I would love to add Isco to the midfield. If that were to happen I’d take the remaining money and spend it on either Leon Bailey or Memphis Depay (if Hudson-Odoi decides to leave). If Hudson-Odoi stays, he and Pulisic will fill the wide positions and Chelsea would need to use the money on a young, world-class striker.

If Chelsea get the £100 million plus for Hazard, I would take the money and split it up. Between that and the money Chelsea will get for players like Tiemoue Bakayoko and possibly Willian, there will be a fairly large amount to go around. The Blues need a world-class attacking mid, a young striker and an anchor in defense.

6. Abhishek Pancholi: The Mauro Icardi cash plonk

Real Madrid really pulled a fast one on Chelsea in the summer and not just in terms of the Thibaut Courtois deal. Loaning out Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea was a masterstroke, a favor disguised as a peace offering that Madrid will seek to cash in on very soon.

Instead of a potential £150 million for Hazard, we are now looking at £100 million and Kovacic. There is no point blaming anyone at Chelsea, because they do not have an official who could take the blame.

So, instead of shaking angry fists at imaginary people, I would take the money, give Inter a call and plonk all of that cash on the table for Mauro Icardi. Sure, names like Paulo Dybala and Isco sound pretty glamorous, but they do not solve our biggest problem – scoring goals. Icardi does nothing but score goals (when he is not stealing his teammate’s girl).

The Argentinian is a ferocious competitor who simply thrives under pressure. Imagine the fighting spirit he would bring to this Chelsea dressing room. In fact, he could be the non-crazy Diego Costa who does not wash his eyes with Gatorade or scare the living daylights out of his brother every other day. He will be just 26 years old in the summer and about to enter his peak years as a footballer. It’s such a no-brainer that even Chelsea could pull this off without actually having someone at the wheel (??? days).

7. Rupert Meadows: Isco or Mateo Kovacic (and learn from Arsenal’s failing)

I would love to see Isco come the other way if Hazard goes to Real. He could fill the position of left winger drifting in like Hazard, but he would also be able to take some of the creative burden off the attacking midfielder (or even play there when required). When the Spanish national team builds their midfield around a single player, you know he is special, and Isco was their most valuable player in the World Cup. He also would represent a player different enough to Hudson-Odoi that he would not represent a threat to him, and could prove to be the player to tie together Sarrismo at Chelsea.

Failing Isco (there is a good chance Chelsea would not be able to get him) I would try to buy Mateo Kovacic as a backup to Jorginho. However, he first has to show between now and the end of the season that he can work that position. Then we’d pick up Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan.

Perisic does not conflict with Hudson-Odoi and is experienced enough to not pose a long term challenge or make Hudson-Odoi question his value to the team. Plus, he should not be that hard to pry away from Inter and should come relatively cheap, given what happened in January with Arsenal.

Lastl,I might look to spend the remainder of the money on buying Ryan Bertrand, having sold Marcos Alonso. Bertrand is a more solid, consistent and Maurizio Sarri-friendly English left back who is still potent going forward and can whip in good crosses. He could also act as a good mentor for Jay Dasilva, when his time comes a couple of years down the line.

Who would you sign using Hazard money if you were the technical director? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!