James Prescott

Willian's been an excellent player for us. He's actually had a really good season this year. But he's nearly 31, getting past his peak (especially for a winger), and inconsitent as hell. He's not a bad player, but come on, he's not exactly world class. We need to rebuild with young talent for the long term. Not keep ageing wingers who are only going to decline. Playing into your thirties works for midifeilders and defenders at this level, but it's long past time we rebuilt with younger talent who can be here 5-10 years, not 1 or 2 more years.

A Belgian journo who is a friend of Hazard reporting he's off to Madrid for £100m. So is Matt Law. He's going. With a ban, we'll have to start CHO. Can't have deadwood like Willian being our first choice LW.

Matt Law and Kristoff Terruer, a Beligan journalist who is a personal friend of Hazard, are reporting Hazard is off to Madrid for £100m - Zidane wants him and he wants to go. Goodnight, sweet prince.

Gareth Bale: Last season - 39 games, 21 goals This season: 34 games, 13 goals. But yep, he's injury prone and past it....

Well I've heard the board are furious with Sarri for not playing CHO and Ampadu more, and didn't buy a CM in Jan as they didn't want to block the path of Mason Mount. There's definitely a shift in emphasis. Matt Law alluded to the fact there are some on the board frustrated the academy players aren't being used as much and see this as an opportunity.

The reality is that Chelsea will have known for some time this was coming. They will appeal (they said so), and the appeals process will give us this summer to buy players - so we make sure we get what we need this summer, and finally, integrate the talented youth we have. Chelsea have arguably the best academy in world football - it's time we used it. Does it mean we won't win the title for two years? Maybe. But maybe this ban will be the kick up the arse the club need to start building a proper structure at first team level. And we get a manager who will blood youth and be able to build a new, young team - so not a supercoach like Allegri, or flavour of the month like Sarri, but a coach tailored to the project we now have. This ban could be a blessing in disguise.

I think Kova will stay as part of the Hazard deal, Jorginho will stay. Morata is already gone. Cahill, Grioud and Luiz are out of contract and Zouma can come back, we have Ampadu, AC, Rudiger and him. Drinkwater, Zappa will be sold. Willian wants a 3 year deal and won't sign a 1 year extension, so he'll be sold. Pedro will go as well. Hazard obviously. There will be two summers worth of budget and we have a great academy, we'll be fine. It's a long-term rebuilding with less pressure due to a ban.

Sorry Paul, but the reality is that within 3-5 years CHO is going to be world class. He wasn't quite ready to start for us in the summer, but now he is, and for me is ahead of both Willian and Pedro right now, both in terms of ability and performance. Still no idea why people think Willian is better, in fact that's the joke. It's called planning for the long-term and building a team for the long-term, not instant success. If we lose him, he'll go become a world class player elsewhere and people on this forum will be moaning aobut how he got away. He's good enough, he is ready, play him. Bayern want to spend a club record fee on him and start him. Of course he isn't Hazard's level now - no one is saying he is. But he will be in a few years time.

Hoping Liverpool bottle it now. Would be the biggest bottling of a title in PL history IMO, and certainly the funniest. Even funnier than 2013 as they made a genuine challenge and everyone thought they would win it. Especially the media, who are embarassingly bias.

Not crazy, he is a potential world class player. Give him the number 10 shirt and make him first choice LW. Willian could be going as he wants a 3 year deal and club will only give him one. Pedro could be off. We may need to sign two wingers this summer on top of Pulisic.

Hazard said "I have decided". Also interview was done two months ago. So he knew his decision then. In that instance, the chances are he would have signed a contract if he was staying. Matt Law, who is generally reliable on Chelsea, stated yesterday Madrid have told Hazard they will bid for him. He's cheaper than Neymar or Mbappe so I'm sure they won't mind spending what it takes - £100-120m by all accounts. Beligian journalists are reporting the club have known his decision for a while, Matt Law also suggested this - I'm sure the club are planning for life without him. Whatever his decision, the club will know long before any of us do for sure. But the way it's going, it looks like he is Madrid bound.

I'm happy for people to critique my opinions fairly. But the aggressive tone from most of them was just unacceptable, and I take it personally. But I'll let it go. No point in debating it.

I thought it was a loan. My mistake. If it was permanent, I completely understand him not going there.

But you missed the part where I said I respected him for what he's done here and for 2012. I actually said that above, I've always thought that. Of course he deserves credit for his Chelsea career and achievements. Not disputing that whatsoever. This isn't about that. It's never been about that. It's about how he's not good enough for us now. As in, today. And I also don't like any player just taking money for doing nothing, whoever it is.

It's never enough for some people. They live and breathe to attack me, it's their sole purpose in coming here. It makes me laugh that people said "don't be a stranger" and welcomed me back. It was clealrly a ruse so some members could get their ego boosted by launching personal attacks and hammering me for having an opinion which differs from the "accepted" one. This place isn't about freedom of speech, it's quite clear. If your opinion differs from the line of the moderators or established posters, it's apparnetly open season to be attacked, mocked and insulted by anyone, even people who should know better. And they have the cheek to accuse me of disrespect.