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29 March 2024

Man Utd warned: Lose title and you lose Hazard

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By Staff with Agencies

Manchester City are poised to land a knockout blow on Manchester United by launching a £35 million raid for Lille star Eden Hazard, according to The Sun.

With City on the verge of winning their first league title in 44 years, this would come as a double blow for United who would relinquish their crown even if they win at Sunderland.

Hazard confirmed the worst-kept secret in French football on Saturday, when he declared that he will leave the French champions at the end of the current season.

Click to read Walcott returns for Arsenal
 
"Only 2 matches left in LOSC's colours... Sniff," the Belgian wrote on his Twitter account.
 
Tottenham and Arsenal are also interested in Hazard, 21, but it is seen as a straight fight between City and rivals Manchester United for the star.

City boss Roberto Mancini said: “I like Hazard a lot. He’s young and would do great things in our team.”

Click to read Spurs line up Bale replacement
 
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder was elected player of the season by sport daily L'Equipe on Saturday, having scored 17 goals and contributed 15 assists in Ligue 1 to date this season.
 
He is the only player apart from Barcelona's Lionel Messi to have amassed more than 15 goals and 15 assists in Europe's major leagues this term.
 
Hazard joined Lille from Belgian side AFC Tubize in July 2006 and made his professional bow under coach Claude Puel at the age of 16 in November 2007.

Click to read Arsenal defeat key, says Mancini

 
Lille have already secured a place in next season's Champions League but must win their penultimate match at league leaders Montpellier on Sunday to stand any chance of retaining their Ligue 1 crown.

Man Utd to lose Pogba.. and Hazard

It is not often that a teenager turns his back on an offer from Manchester United. That too, to join Juventus, given that the Italian giants have been struggling in recent years.

However, that’s exactly what Paul Pogba has done.

The player that was being touted as United’s future Patrick Viera has turned down a lucrative contract at Old Trafford to join the Italian outfit.

Click to read Man Utd line up Dembele for Scholes

His decision was made known in a letter from his agent Mino Raiola to United chief executive David Gill, but there has been no contact between Pogba, 19, and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is the first of many shocks that Sir Alex fears United will be facing, especially as rivals Manchester City will be on hand to outbid and outbuy United this summer.

Fergie’s two main targets Tottenham’s Luka Modric and Eden Hazard of Lille, are also being tracked by City.

Ferguson was quoted in the British press on Saturday saying: “No one can match City’s financial power, no one. The transfer market has been insane for a while and I think clubs like City create that.

“They can buy all the players, and put a marker on all the players, it makes it difficult then for clubs to be reasonable.

“There’s no doubt we’ll be bringing players in. Maybe two or three, it depends on the kind of market we’re dealing with. We have to accept the situation, so we do it a different way.

“We will try and look at younger players with the potential to develop at the club. That is what we are good at. Scholes and Giggs are coming to the end. Players like them don’t fall off trees.”

Pogba was rated one of the best young products in the club’s academy, which he joined from Le Havre in 2009.

He made his Premier League debut against Stoke City in January.

Click to read Arsenal defeat key, says Mancini