Wenger: I Tried To Sign Hazard

As we enter the final stages of the summer transfer window, Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news. Today, Arsene Wenger confirms he tried to sign Eden Hazard.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed he tried to sign Eden Hazard back in 2010 but was knocked back by Lille.

The Frenchman revealed that he has been tracking the Belgian ace for some time and claims he tried to snap him up two years ago but was told by Lille he wasn’t for sale. Speaking to the Sun, Wenger said.

“I tried to sign him [Hazard]. Two years ago, we were in touch with Lille but they never wanted to sell then.”

Several clubs were chasing the highly-rated attacker this summer. Hazard eventually opted for a move to Stamford Bridge in a £32m deal, and the Arsenal supremo admitted he would loved to have signed him, but couldn’t compete with the financial muscle of the likes of Man City and Chelsea.

Wenger continued:

“Hazard we would have considered, yes. We were a long time on the case but there was such competition for him — Manchester City, Chelsea — and they fly a bit higher in the sky.

“He is a guy who has something special, as you have seen already.”

There were fears the youngster wouldn’t be able to handle the rough-and-tumble of the Premier League. But despite his slight frame, the 21-year-old looks like he will adapt just fine to life in England.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news

In fact, Hazard has made an excellent start to life in the Premier League, bagging six assists and one goal in his first three games, so is well on the way to repaying the huge amount of money Chelsea have paid to sign him.

Are Arsenal fans disappointed to have missed out on Hazard? Should Wenger have made more effort to sign him? Get involved in the comments section.

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