Arsenal have reportedly opened talks to sign Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard this summer. Mikel Arteta wants the Belgian, who Thierry Henry once claimed is more effective in the final third than Christian Pulisic.
Hazard, 31, was a legend at Chelsea – but he has since failed to prove his worth at Real Madrid. Clocking up just 65 appearances since joining Madrid in the summer of 2019, he has scored just six goals for the Galacticos.
This summer, given he is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, Hazard is likely to be made available for transfer. Foot Mercato report that Arsenal have made an enquiry to sign Hazard in the coming months.
Speaking about £58m (GOAL) Chelsea man Pulisic in February, Arsenal icon Henry claimed that he has not seen the USA star show something Hazard did at Chelsea – creating chances against a side with a low defensive block.
“When I look at Pulisic, all of the clips [of his skills] are in transition,” Henry told CBS – as per The Metro. “If you want to be big at this club, Eden Hazard could unlock something when the [opposing] team was low.
“I haven’t seen that with him yet. He can do transitions, yes. But can he unlock it with a [Mohamed] Salah movement or Eden Hazard movement? I’ve not seen that yet,” Henry continued.
Henry on Hazard: Why Arsenal should avoid signing Madrid star
The identity implemented by Mikel Arteta and Edu at Arsenal is by bringing in players that are between the age of 20 and 25 – players that are below their peak, and will improve under Arteta. They are still hungry.
Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga have all come in and impressed – alongside Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli.
Hazard does not fit into that mould. He is past his best, he is on enormous wages and if he joined Arsenal – he would end up being another Willian.
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