Scouting Chelsea Transfer Target Radja Nainggolan on His Euro 2016 Form

Before Belgium's 2-0 defeat to Italy at Euro 2016, Eden Hazard spoke about the game being a dress rehearsal for when he teams up with Antonio Conte at Chelsea next season.

Conte is the Italy manager and will take over at Chelsea when the national team's European Championship journey comes to an end.

"I am happy to play against my future coach and hope to show he can count on me [at Chelsea]," Hazard told journalists in the pre-match press conference.

If the game was a chance for Hazard to prove himself to Conte, it was equally so for Radja Nainggolan, who continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, per Simon Johnson for the Evening Standard.

As much as that game was, so too are the remaining matches of Euro 2016; not only for Nainggolan, but a host of other players who are hoping to put themselves in the shop window ahead of the new domestic season.

Focusing on Nainggolan, how has he fared with Belgium after two matches? Should he remain a priority for Chelsea? Bleacher Report takes a closer look.

Form

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Antonio Conte is a shrewd enough manager to understand that you can't judge a player on one game in isolation. Were he to adopt that policy, though, Nainggolan would have long since fallen off his radar, regardless of Roma boss Luciano Spalletti's recent declaration that Nainggolan has promised to remain in the Italian capital.

"I think he stays with us. He is a man of his word and promised," Spalletti said this week, per the Evening Standard's Tom Dutton. "He seemed enthusiastic about continuing to give [Roma] his contribution next season."

When Nainggolan lined up against Italy, his performance in the midfield pivot alongside Axel Witsel was a major reason for Italy enjoying the dominance they did. The pair played too far apart from one another, and Nainggolan didn't impact the game.

He was slow to move the ball in midfield, and it meant Belgium's transitions coming out of the back were laborious and easy for the Italians to deal with.

It was no surprise to see him hooked by Marc Wilmots just after the hour mark and replaced by Dries Mertens. There was an element of necessity to that as Belgium were chasing the game and needed more attackers on the pitch, but Nainggolan was an easy casualty for the manager.

Against Ireland, Mousa Dembele was preferred to Nainggolan, and the latter only appeared when his team-mate was injured in the second half.

What does Dembele's performance tell us about Nainggolan and Chelsea?

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Here's where it gets interesting for Conte and his rumoured interest in Nainggolan. If the Belgian is seen as a direct replacement for Nemanja Matic, then bringing him to Chelsea holds some wisdom as the manager needs to bulk up defensive midfield.

What Dembele showed against Ireland, though, is how limited Nainggolan can be. His limitations stifled Belgium against Italy, whereas Dembele was able to get his team playing on the front foot a lot more.

Sure, both players featured against very different teams with different qualities. Comparing with Ireland is rather more apt, though, as Martin O'Neil's side played in a way many teams do against Chelsea. With lesser players, Ireland wanted to hit Belgium on the counter and wait for their chance to throw a sucker punch.

With Dembele in the side, it made that less likely to happen. He kept the ball moving in central areas and had a positive impact on how Belgium attacked. Wilmots' men were far from perfect, but they still looked a superior outfit. They were quicker in possession than they were against Italy.

It was only with the game at 1-0 that Nainggolan's qualities were needed. He was able to bulldoze through midfield and break up the Irish attacks that were being formed as they were trailing. The more they opened up, the more it allowed Nainggolan to showcase his defensive capabilities.

For Chelsea, though, they need a player in midfield who can offer much more than that. It's because of being one dimensional that they suffered so much last season.

Would Nainggolan present Chelsea with the same problems as 2015/16?

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This is the key question for Conte. We suspect he isn't going to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation at Chelsea, but regardless of what system he does play, the manager can't afford to congest his midfield with defensive-minded players.

Chelsea's worst performances last season under Guus Hiddink were when the Dutchman deployed John Obi Mikel and Matic as a partnership. It was football with the handbrake on, and it stifled Chelsea doing anything in attack.

Something similar happened with Witsel and Nainggolan against Italy. The concern is that Conte will be swapping Witsel for Matic or Mikel in that example. If that happens, Chelsea may have a solid looking defensive midfield, but we shouldn't expect much by way of invention in attack.

What the European Championships have reinforced this summer is how attacking football is earning teams rewards again. Playing cautiously and inviting opponents on is more troubling, which Chelsea found out themselves last season.

Nainggolan seems an option if Chelsea are looking at freshening things up with new faces, but his arrival would have to spell the end for Mikel or Matic (even both) for him to work. His partner in the middle would have to offer much more going forward than either of that pair do.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes