Charlie Nicolas has told Chelsea boss Frank Lampard that he has the perfect replacement for Eden Hazard, and it is not Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Over a seven year stint with Chelsea, Hazard become one of the best players in the game and one of the most decorated in the Blues history. But after years of speculation, he finally departed the club in the summer and made the move to Real Madrid.
There has been talk that Chelsea will go out and buy an adequate replacement, but many believe that the likes of Christian Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi will eventually be the men that help fill the void of the Belgian, especially as they are the same kind of player as Hazard.
However, Nicolas has claimed that midfielder Mason Mount is the man to replace the Belgian, after earning an England call-up this week, Nicholas reckons the 20-year-old can step up for the Blues.
“Everywhere he gets the ball is usually in the last 40 yards and he’s always looking to do something,” he said on Soccer Saturday.
“He’s got this lovely whip, it’s a little bit like [David] Beckham actually, where he slightly looks off balance but he can whip it.
“He gets a real bit of movement on the ball.
“He is so assured and he’s only going to get better but I just wonder how they’re going to fit him in. You can’t replace Hazard but the signs are that he could play that role.
“Not as good as Hazard yet but the signs are very promising for this lad.”
Mount is one the brightest talents at the club and he has the ability to score and create on a regular basis, but it is a massive claim by Nicolas to suggest that he will be the man that eventually replaces Hazard.