• Premier League

Lille warn Chelsea off Hazard

ESPNsoccernet staff
February 12, 2011
Eden Hazard is reportedly receptive to interest from Chelsea © Getty Images
Enlarge

Lille director general Frederic Paquet has told Chelsea to forget about signing Eden Hazard.

French sports paper L'Equipe put Hazard on their front page on Friday, claiming Chelsea had announced their interest in the winger and would be prepared to pay €25 million for him.

Chelsea are said to have contacted the player directly with a view to a move in the summer, while Hazard himself was said to be interested and to have asked his agents to look at the proposal in more detail.

Paquet has been infuriated by the claims. "If Chelsea have contacted Eden, we are officially offended," he said. "This is not the way things are done.

"It's been three years since Eden Hazard began attracting the interest of the top European clubs, but nobody is selling. We are currently holding discussions with Eden over how we can put together a long-term project together, but maybe our message was not strong enough. We want to clarify it once again."

Hazard, 20, was twice voted best youngster in Ligue 1 and was in the team of the season for 2009-10. This season again he has been a significant factor for Lille, with his three goals and six assists helping the side to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger earlier this year voiced his admiration for the young winger, who at the time quoted Arsenal and Real Madrid as his dream destinations should he leave Lille.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices