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29 March 2024

I want to move to England, says Hazard

Published
By AFP

Eden Hazard may have sparked a bidding war among Premier League clubs after revealing on Sunday that his preferred destination when he leaves Lille next summer is England.

The 21-year-old Belgian international announced in October that he intends to leave Lille at the end of the season and when asked on Canal+ where he would like to go, he replied: "England."

"After thinking about it, I'm leaning towards England," he said.

"It's a style of play that suits me and it's there that you can learn the most."

Hazard conceded that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were among the clubs he could join but said: "Nothing has been decided yet."

"I want to play at a big club, but I don't want to sit on the bench," he said. "It needs to be a club that plays good football."

Canal+ pundit Christophe Dugarry told Hazard: "I bet it's Chelsea."

Hazard, though, kept his cards close to his chest and replied: "Well, you're free to place your bets."

Hazard was elected Ligue 1's Player of the Season after helping Lille to a league and French Cup double last season.

He scored his eighth league goal of the current campaign and made another for debutant Nolan Roux in Lille's 3-0 defeat of Saint-Etienne on Saturday, which kept Rudi Garcia's side in third place in the Ligue 1 table.

Hazard was also asked if there was any chance he could leave Lille before the winter transfer window closes on Tuesday, but he replied: "No. It's impossible."

The skilful attacking midfielder has attracted attention from some of Europe's biggest clubs in recent years and is likely to command a transfer fee in excess of 30 million euros ($39.6m).