Lille star close to agreeing Chelsea switch
Chelsea have opened talks with Lille over a summer move for Eden Hazard after they failed to sign the Belgian playmaker during the January transfer window.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas failed to bring the much sought after 21-year-old to Stamford Bridge last month but it’s now being suggested that Hazard will make the move once the Ligue 1 season ends. Having already admitted his plans to leave Stade-Lille Metropole in the summer it’s believed the Premier League will be his destination with reports indicating he has provisionally agreed to join Chelsea.
A £25 million fee has been mooted for a player considered one of the brightest midfield talents in Europe following his impressive form for Lille over the last 18-months playing a vital role in their Ligue 1 title success last season securing a place amongst the Champions League elite. His performances have proved to be just as exciting during the current campaign with the French club managing to hang onto Hazard during January despite interest from a clutch of leading European clubs.
Manchester United and Tottenham have both stepped up their interests in the playmaker over the past month whilst Arsenal and Real Madrid remain in the hunt for his signature. However it seems that his future has already been decided and he will be heading to Chelsea in the summer as Villas-Boas undertakes a radical overhaul of his ageing squad. The Portuguese tactician is determined to inject some younger players into the dressing room and signing Hazard would represent a massive coup.
Should the Belgium international make the proposed move to West London it could spell the end for Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou who have hardly featured for Chelsea this season and are considered surplus to requirements.
