According to MediaFoot, Arsenal have now asked Real Madrid about Eden Hazard as they look to bolster their attack in January.
The Gunners have, notably, been chasing Mykhaylo Mudryk this month, but with Shakhtar Donetsk holding out for £88m for the winger, the north London club are having to look at alternatives.
Hazard, as many will know, has the attributes to be a truly world-class player. He’s a two-time PFA Player of the Year winner, and while he’s been off the boil as of late, on his day he’s in a league of his own.
Don’t just take our word for it though, one man who knows Hazard well is Thierry Henry. The Arsenal legend has coached Hazard with Belgium in recent years, and he’s had good things to say about the winger in the past.
Henry loves Hazard
The Frenchman discussed Hazard a few years ago on Sky.
“I think he can be a difference maker everywhere, especially for Belgium,” Henry said on Sky Sports.
“He is an important player – we have a lot – but when he is on tune, he is very difficult to play against,” he added.
“We forget that he broke his ankle not that long ago and he came back into the game like nothing happened and went back to his level which says a lot about him as a man.”
Has to improve
As Henry says, Hazard is unplayable when he’s at his best, but it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen the Belgian playing at that level.
However, as Mikel Arteta has shown this season, he knows how to get the best out of his attacking talent, and perhaps a return to the Premier League is just what Hazard needs to reignite his career.
If Thierry Henry thinks you’re a good player, you must have a lot about you, and as the Arsenal legend says, Hazard did bounce back from a broken ankle with ease, so perhaps he can bounce back from his poor spell in Madrid too.
This would be a huge risk from Arsenal, but it’s a gamble that could very well pay off.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
