Chelsea are one of three Premier League clubs in the hunt for Real Madrid midfielder Isco, as per the Sun. He would be a good signing but if he switches clubs with Eden Hazard - who has been linked with a move to the Spanish champions - the Blues will have got the raw end of the deal.

What's the story, then?

The Blues, despite the question marks over the future of manager Antonio Conte, are reportedly willing to tussle with Tottenham and Manchester City for the signature of the playmaker who is not happy with his gametime at the Bernabeu.

Isco, who scored a hat-trick for Spain in midweek in the 6-1 demolition of Argentina, is valued at £67.5m by Transfermarkt, but the report suggests he could be available for a cut-price £40m.

Talk linking Hazard with Real has been ongoing for months - Chelsea's potential failure to qualify for the Champions League doesn't help their case for keeping him - and while there is no talk of a swap as of yet, the two players could trade places.

Chelsea need Isco and Hazard, not instead of Hazard

The thought of Isco and Hazard flitting around behind a central striker in a 3-4-2-1 is mouth-watering and I have little doubt that the Spaniard would be a success in Premier League football.

If a new manager comes in and ditches Conte's three-man backline, a 4-2-3-1 with the Spaniard and the Belgian alongside Willian in support of a frontman is similarly appealing.

Alvaro Morata might even be buoyed by the arrival of his international team-mate. Isco could provide the bullets on the pitch and an increased degree of familiarity off it.

However, Chelsea should not make the mistake of allowing Hazard to leave if they can get Isco in to replace him. The Spaniard is a different type of player and Hazard understands the demands of the Premier League.

Whoever is Chelsea manager next season would be in a slightly precarious position if he was reliant on a timid Morata to rediscover his confidence and Isco to hit the ground running in English football.

The Blues would have a much better chance of getting back to the top of the tree with Hazard and Isco in tandem; not trading places.

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