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Chelsea's talisman Eden Hazard has once again expressed his admiration for Real Madrid and is unsure as to whether he will extend his current contract with the London club. The Belgian has proven to be of Chelsea's most influential players in recent years, with two Premier League titles, a League Cup, an FA Cup and a Europa League to show for his efforts during his six years at Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old looks better than ever in a Chelsea side rejuvenated under Maurizio Sarri, with Hazard and his fellow attackers now free of defensive responsibility.
The magnificence and grandeur of a club like Real Madrid, however, is difficult to escape for any player, regardless of how good their current side may be. Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois have all been lured away from England by the draw of playing for Los Blancos and the history that comes with that. Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus, however, has left a gaping hole at Madrid, with the Spanish club left searching for a worthy replacement.
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Eden Hazard is not the only available replacement for the Portuguese star, with several players likely to be on Fiorentino Perez's shortlist. Here are three alternatives to Eden Hazard that Real should consider when looking for a marquee signing.
Kylian Mbappe
The 19-year-old Ligue 1 and World Cup winner already looks like the real deal, with the teenager bagging four goals against title rivals Lyon. Kylian shot to the world's attention after his breakthrough season at Monaco which culminated in a first Ligue 1 title and a run to the Champions League semi-finals. Mbappe's contributions that season earnt him a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain who agreed to pay a fee of £166 million after the 2017/18 campaign had finished.
The right-winger, however, might only fulfil a part of his potential in Paris despite playing alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani every week. The Parisian club are likely to stroll to a sixth French league title in seven years but are not facing the sufficient competition required to push the side to the limits. The club, as a result, does not necessarily have the intensity and nous to compete at the highest level of European competition. Despite the immense wealth of their Qatari backed owners, the club like the rest still remains a stepping stone to the gates of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The winger's athletic ability, strength and skill are some of Mbappe's best traits, with the teenager very clinical and composed in front of goal. The Golden Boy nominee is not fazed by the big occasion either with the former Monaco man scoring against nearly every big team he has faced.
Anthony Martial
This, on paper, looks a rather unorthodox option, with the French winger not even playing regularly at Manchester United and having to compete with Alexis Sanchez for the left-wing spot in the United starting eleven. Unlike Mbappe, Anthony Martial's big-money transfer from Monaco in 2015 came as a major shock, with the potential £58 million pound fee raising eyebrows and sending shockwaves right across Europe. The thought of spending nearly 60 million pounds on a talented but unheralded winger baffled many, with this deal changing the types of fees demanded by clubs in the future.
Martial's debut season proved a resounding success, with the Frenchman finishing as the club's top scorer in all competitions with 17 goals. The winger's exploits also earnt him the European Golden Boy award; the most prestigious for the continent's best player under the age of 21. Anthony's electric speed and dribbling skills caused many to make comparisons between him and a young Thierry Henry with the former Monaco man earning praise from pundits and fans alike.
His career at United may have stalled a little since his debut season, but his youth, energy and undoubted potential make him a capable and very realistic alternative to Eden Hazard.
Christian Pulisic
The promising American has been linked with almost every top European club over the past couple of years and looks set for a move away from Dortmund at some point in the near future. Although the 20-year-old may not be as ready-made in comparison to his French counterparts, his raw potential and talent have left all of the continent's most established excited and intrigued by his ability.
The winger, who came through Dortmund's famed youth academy, has already established himself on the international stage, with Pulisic becoming the youngster player ever to score for the United States, after netting a goal in World Cup qualifying. Christian, like Martial and Mbappe, is blessed with great athleticism and trickery, with the 20-year-old very capable of beating opposition defenders.
The youngster has already displayed great versatility during his time in the Bundesliga, with the American capable of playing on both wings and also down the middle. BVB may have lost Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele in recent seasons but are currently top of the German League table, with Pulisic, Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus firing on all cylinders.
