Eden Hazard doesn’t sound convinced by Chelsea’s transfer work (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has admitted he’s unsure if the Blues squad is stronger this season than last after a difficult summer transfer window for the club.

The Belgian forward is yet to play for Antonio Conte’s side this season after picking up an injury during the summer, though he looks closer to a return after playing for his country in this international break.

Still, Hazard doesn’t sound convinced that he’ll be stepping back into a better team than the one that won the Premier League title last season.

While big names like Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Danny Drinkwater have been brought in, Hazard admitted some key figures have also left, with John Terry leaving at the end of his contract and Nemanja Matic sold to rivals Manchester United in a surprise move

Hazard hopes Diego Costa will play for the club again (Picture: Getty)
Alvaro Morata’s fast start doesn’t seem to have eased Hazard’s concerns (Picture: Getty)

Discussing the state of Chelsea’s squad, Hazard also appeared to doubt the arrival of Morata in particular as he expressed a desire for unsettled striker Diego Costa to return to first-team action despite his summer-long dispute with the club amid a failed transfer to Atletico Madrid.

‘I don’t know (if the squad is stronger). We’ll see at the end of the season,’ Hazard told Marca.

‘We won the league last year, so if we repeat that this year then we can say that the team is stronger. We have lost some important players, but that’s compensated with the new arrivals.

Nemanja Matic’s departure looks a blow as Hazard admits important players have left (Picture: Getty)
John Terry’s dressing room presence could also be sorely missed at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
John Terry’s dressing room presence could also be sorely missed at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

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‘We will see, adapting to the new squad and trying to win games.’

On Costa, he added: ‘Diego and I have been playing together for three years, we have won everything together except for the Champions League.

‘It’s a pleasure to play with him, he’s a top player and a top person. I would like to see him come back, but I don’t make the decisions. I hope he can find a solution so that we can see him back on the pitch soon.’

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