Chelsea and Manchester City have joined the race to sign highly rated winger Eden Hazard, but will face stiff competition to sign the £40m rated star.
Arsenal and Liverpool are also in the running to sign the star but the Premiership giants will have to battle it out with Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are reportedly favourites to land the Belgian.
The 20-year-old has become one of the hottest properties in Europe thanks to his dazzling performances in Ligue 1, and Manchester City football development executive, Patrick Vieira, watched the Belgian international in action against Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Arsenal were heavily linked with a £25m move for Hazard in the summer but a move failed to materialise and now it seems not only has the price almost doubled, but the Gunners will be facing stiff competition to land the exciting youngster.
Lille academy director Jean-Michel Vandamme, the man who took Hazard to France, admits the forward will remain in Ligue 1 until next summer but predicts all the big-guns will come knocking sooner or later.
“Eden is certainly willing to stay at Lille at least until next summer,” he said. “Here is his home, this is his garden.
“Chelsea has been following him the closest. The Spaniards have not manifested themselves yet, but I think they are playing it smart and will call when they know they have to – I’m talking about Real, but also about Barcelona.”
“The buyer will have to come up with a lot of money – let us say he is not currently to go for less than £40million.”
