Chelsea FC: Eden Hazard Making an Early Case for Player of the Year

Chelsea new boy Eden Hazard has been creating quite the buzz at Stamford Bridge so far this season.

The Belgium international has one goal and six assists through three games and has led Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table.

The former Lille starlet was one of the most sought-after summer signings, snubbing the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal to join the reigning European Champions.

Since debuting for the West London side, Hazard has been an instrumental piece of Chelsea’s starting 11.  The young Belgian even seems to elevate the level of the players around him. Hazard has been tipped by football pundits to lead Chelsea’s title bid and help to revive the career of Spanish striker Fernando Torres.

Hazard is known for his speed and technical skill and has been compared to the likes of soccer superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He has been twice selected as the Ligue 1 Player of the Year for his 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons with Lille. 

If Hazard pans out to be the player everyone believes he can be, he might just be the difference between a sixth-place finish and a first-place finish in the English Premier League.

Chelsea wasn’t short on luck during its Champions League run last season, and the luck continued to come when the club landed the signature of this European gem.

In an era of superstars, Eden Hazard could be the next big name in European football. Acquired for about £35.3 million (according to The Telegraph), Hazard could turn out to be a bargain if he lives up to the hype.

Is Eden Hazard a legitimate candidate to win Premier League Player of the Year?