Chelsea Transfer News: Nemanja Matic Set for Juventus, Fresh Eden Hazard Rumours

Juventus are reportedly "close to clinching a £20 million deal" for Chelsea star Nemanja Matic this summer.

That's according to an exclusive from Tony Banks of the Daily Express, who noted the Serie A champions "are confident a deal can be struck," with negotiations having taken place for over a week.

The Serbian was one of Chelsea's most important players last season as they won the Premier League title, forming an excellent partnership with Cesc Fabregas in midfield and providing invaluable protection for the back four—something that likely allowed the now-35-year-old John Terry to shine as he did despite his age.

However, Matic has been far less impressive this year, so he's at risk of being moved on by incoming boss Antonio Conte.

Sports journalist Dan Levene noted how ineffectual Matic and John Obi Mikel are when partnered together in midfield in terms of providing a platform from which the Blues can attack:

ESPN FC's Liam Twomey similarly remarked on the pair's lack of creativity:

Indeed, while the role of creator ostensibly falls to Fabregas, Matic has provided his team-mates with fewer goalscoring opportunities per game than last season, according to Squawka.

More importantly, the role for which Matic is primarily in the team—a shield in front of the defence—has not been executed nearly as effectively, either. Per Squawka, while he has averaged the same number of interceptions, he has won significantly fewer tackles and aerial duels per match.

The midfielder is still just 27, and there's plenty of time for him to rediscover his form. But equally, it would not be a surprise if he and the club opted for him to have a fresh start elsewhere, and there are few better places he could go than Juventus.

Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail's Kieran Gill, Eden Hazard has "performed a U-turn" and will remain at Stamford Bridge next season despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, with "club insiders" asserting he is "100 per cent prepared to stay" and prove himself at Chelsea.

The Belgian capped off a late-season revival by scoring against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday in a game in which he was named WhoScored.com's man of the match:

As Premier League all-time top scorer Alan Shearer noted, though, the playmaker has been a shadow of his former self for much of the campaign:

Like Matic, Hazard has more than enough time left to show the form that earned him the plaudits he enjoyed last season, and he's shown he can be a world-class operator when on top form.

Replacing Hazard is a worry Conte could do without as he seeks to rebuild the squad this summer, and the 25-year-old staying could be vitally important to their chances of reclaiming the title next season.