Chelsea transfer news: David Luiz pinpoints Callum Hudson-Odoi as the man to replace Real Madrid-bound Eden Hazard

David Luiz has said that “only [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo” can replace Eden Hazard at Chelsea, although has tipped 18-year-old England international Callum Hudson-Odoi to one day be as good as the Belgian.

Hazard was sensational in Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Arsenal in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. The 28-year-old assisted Pedro for Chelsea’s second goal before getting on the scoresheet himself, coolly converting a penalty kick before putting the game to bed by sweeping home a second after Alex Iwobi’s stunning strike had briefly given Arsenal hope.

After the match Hazard intimated his Chelsea career at come to an end in a series of different interviews, during which he said he had “made my decision” and “in the next few days, my departure will be official.”

Luiz has spent five seasons playing alongside Hazard during his two spells at Stamford Bridge, and has said that only the world’s two best players have the talent to adequately fill the Belgian’s shoes.

When asked who could replace Hazard, Luiz replied: “That’s either Messi or Ronaldo! I think that, if he goes, I just wish him all the best. He is a fantastic player, friend and guy. And I have known him ever since he was here so young.

“I am so happy for him because now the world knows who Eden Hazard is. It is part of life. Some cycles finish, some cycles start. And I think we have many talents within the club to replace him.”

Chelsea learned earlier this month that their appeal against the transfer ban imposed upon them by Fifa had been unsuccessful, meaning that they are currently prohibited from signing players during the next two transfer windows, until the end of January 2020.

The club said they were “very disappointed” by the ban and are currently in the process of lodging an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However should that be unsuccessful, they will be unable to replace Hazard by spending millions in the transfer market, forcing them to look in house.

Christian Pulisic will shortly arrive at the club following his £58m move from Borussia Dortmund in January, while Willian will be hoping to win back his place in the Chelsea first-team, but Luiz has suggested that Hudson-Odoi, who is currently ruled out with a ruptured Achilles, is already good enough to help fill the void left by Hazard.

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“We have many [who could replace Hazard], also Callum is great,” he said. “Callum has known this club since he was young and he has the talents to one day try to be like Eden.

“It is a new story for Callum. It did not start so well because of the injury but now it is time for him to improve in other sides of his game.”

Much like Hazard, manager Maurizio Sarri has also been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in recent weeks, although Luiz hailed the “amazing” impact the Italian has made on Chelsea and backed him to stay with the club beyond the summer.

“It’s his first season at Chelsea, his first in English football,” Luiz said of Sarri. “And I think he did great. He is a great person, a great guy, a great manager and we finished in the best way for him because we finished winning a trophy in his way.

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“He was training many, many clubs in the lower divisions. He was doing one different job [banker] and then he quit to try a big journey and do something in football. Today he arrives in a big final and to do great like that, of course there is going to be emotion. Of course for us, it’s emotional because we have a history of life to be here today.

“He deserved that, it was a fantastic season for him.”