10 is the magic number for Hazard

Chelsea fans needn’t worry. Eden Hazard, equipped with his favourite number 10 shirt next season will help to win the league for the Blues, who are 2/1 with Coral.

As Jose Mourinho begins his summer reshape, which includes plans for a prolific, world class striker, replacements for David Luiz and Frank Lampard, and potential added extras, fans have reason to get excited that the jewel on their Kings Road base, Hazard, will begin to shine. He is 4/1 to be Belgium’s top scorer at World Cup, and after 17 goals already this campaign, signs indicate his form is only going to increase.

It is no coincidence that some players perform better by applying some superstitions, and it appears this could work in both the Belgian and Chelsea’s favour.

“It is my favourite number and is one I am used to wearing for the national team, as well as the one worn by some of my heroes from when I was a kid, like Zinedine Zidane,” Hazard said

“I hope it brings me a lot of luck in the future and I look forward to the fans seeing me in it next season.”

Hazard had been attracting the interest of PSG, who were thought to have been readying a £61m bid, and a five year contract worth £230k per week. The west Londoners however, have trumped them in negotiations. Their response was to offer the number 10 shirt to their influential talisman.

The Blues, whose shopping list is thought to be extensive, with the likes of Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa, Koke, Tiago, Luis Felipe, and Diego Godin, could be serious contenders next season.

Their great-value odds will drop dramatically if Mourinho, who already has £40m to spend after selling Luiz to the French champions, gets his way.

Don’t under-estimate the effect of Hazard, whose Belgium team are 20/1 to win the World Cup, being handed his favourite number, stepping up another level next term and literally taking the league by storm.

With Hazard behind Costa, Chelsea could run riot.