The former Liverpool midfielder also believes Hazard would have left Stamford Bridge a long time ago if he had a more 'demanding' personality

'now or never'

Eden Hazard must leave for Real Madrid this summer as Chelsea are ‘at a crossroads’, former Liverpool captain Graham Souness has claimed.

Former midfielder Souness, writing in his Sunday Times column, started by insisting Hazard must push himself more to achieve bigger things in the game.

Getty 2 Hazard must move to Real Madrid to further his career, claims Souness

“Where will Chelsea be without him [Hazard]?” Souness writes. “To lose him would be a huge blow because he’s their one outstanding talent.

“The word is he’s a really good lad, but he can be accused of getting in his armchair a bit during games and drifting out of them.

“That’s why it’s now or never. He needs to be in a more challenging environment.

“He has been fabulous for Chelsea but needs to be pushed, by himself or the environment he’s in, to go to the next level. Moving to Real Madrid can bring that out of him.”

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Souness also suggested Chelsea are now not the club they have been throughout the past 15 years, with the current situation of their owner, Roman Abramovich, badly effecting the Stamford Bridge outfit.

He adds: “Chelsea are at a crossroads. The drawbridge has been pulled up by the owner. A new stadium is on the back burner, there’s an embargo on transfers until January 2020, pending an appeal, and, as much as Roman Abramovich says he’s still committed, Chelsea are treading water, whereas for the past 15 years they have been one of the biggest clubs in terms of exciting transfers and things going on.

“They’ve dropped out of that group who make the headlines in every transfer window.

2 Souness believes Chelsea are ‘at a crossroads’ after years of dominance

“From the outside looking in, it appears Abramovich feels he’s been mistreated by our government after being denied a visa last summer and is taking his ball home with him in response. It feels like the end of an era for Chelsea.”

Chelsea and Hazard travel to Anfield on Sunday in a crucial clash for both clubs

Chelsea need a result after top four rivals Tottenham and Manchester United recorded wins on Saturday, while Liverpool must claim victory to continue their quest for a first title in 29 years.