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Report: Chelsea new boy Pulisic not considered Hazard replacement

Steven Paston - PA Images / PA Images / Getty

The signing of Christian Pulisic has no bearing on Eden Hazard's future as a Chelsea player, sources told the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.

Hours after Pulisic completed a €64-million move to Chelsea, speculation mounted that Hazard - who's openly floated the idea of playing for Real Madrid - would be on the way out. However, Johnson quashed that notion, along with conjecture that up-and-coming winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will have to leave the club.

Chelsea apparently remain hopeful Hazard and Hudson-Odoi will sign new long-term deals.

Johnson also dismissed the theory that Chelsea added Pulisic in anticipation of a transfer ban later this year. The west London club is being investigated for signing players who are under 18 years old.

In fact, sources told ESPN FC's Raphael Honigstein that Chelsea had considered Pulisic a long-term target and began talks with Dortmund in the summer. Negotiations reportedly continued into the 2018-19 season and a deal in principle was reached in autumn.

Despite making just five league starts for Dortmund this season, Pulisic - who was loaned back to the Bundesliga giants as part of the agreement - is considered an important part of their title push. BVB currently have an eight-point lead over rivals Bayern Munich at the halfway mark of the campaign.

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