Spurs have been linked with the £30 million plus teenager, but face competition from Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. If he went to the Lane, which position in the side would he take up?
You do not spend £30 million plus on a player just to sit him on the bench.
So if Eden Hazard became Tottenham’s marquee summer signing, one of the club’s current stars would have to make way.
Spurs’ success early this season was built on a midfield four of Lennon-Modric-Parker-Bale with Van der Vaart playing behind Emmanuel Adebayor.
On Saturday against Newcastle they showed they were just as effective playing a 4-4-2 as a 4-4-1-1 with Louis Saha up top with Adebayor and Kranjcar in for Lennon on the right.
Hazard currently plays for French club Lille and plays as an attacking midfielder, equally capable through the middle or on the left, despite being right-footed.
Unfortunately for Hazard, in going to Tottenham he would be competing against one of the best left wingers in world football, in Gareth Bale.
So it is unlikely Hazard would spent much of his time on the left, even despite Bale’s capability to track inside centrally and cause problems.
That means surely it is likelier the position Hazard would occupy is the role behind the main striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation, putting Van der Vaart’s place at risk.
The Dutchman has had a mixed season, starting slowly, exploding into life in October scoring a series of goals and has been slightly above average ever since.
He was not missed in Tottenham’s 5-0 rout of Newcastle, and he has struggled to fit into a 4-4-2 whenever Tottenham have deployed that formation.
He has usually started on the right, but has not had an effective game there and when he has scored from that position it is usually from a penalty rather than open play.
Hazard would surely be an improvement on the Dutchman’s inconsistent performances, yet there is no reason for Van der Vaart to leave the club, he would just have to work harder.
The young Belgian could of course be encouraged to take up a role on the right, his natural side, and age is on his side as well as talent if he wishes to perfect that position, after all, Aaron Lennon is another who has had a mixed season and he would be unlikely to stop Hazard taking his place.
This all depends of course, not only on Hazard signing, but which manager is in post in August.
If Redknapp leaves and a new coach comes in, they could play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Hazard as the central attacker and Bale wide left and either Lennon or Van der Vaart on the right.
Where do you think Hazard would play for Spurs?
image: © wonker
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