Which club represents the BEST possible fit for Eden Hazard?

Eden Hazard ’s Lille team mate Aurelien Chedjou has stated recently that the Belgian international has offers from 5 different clubs. The names in question are Real Madrid , Barcelona , Bayern Munich , Arsenal and Liverpool. These are certainly the cream of the crop of Europe’s elite clubs, so how can the Reds compete without the prospect of European football for Hazard next season? Below, I look at the options for Hazard and see which destination is the most likely for the Belgian starlet:

Real Madrid – French legend Zinedine Zidane has tried to persuade the player to move to the Bernabeu, and it looks as if Madrid have heeded Zizou’s advice and have made a bid for the player. From Hazard’s point of view though, he couldn’t go to a worst destination as the likelihood of getting first team football is minimal. Not only do they have Mesut Ozil, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Canales, Pedro Leon, Angel Di Maria, Esteban Granero, Lassana Diarra, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Gago on their books in midfield areas, they have also signed playmaker Nuri Sahin from Borussia Dortmund and Hamit Altintop from Bayern Munich in the last month or so.

Barcelona – Like Madrid, Barca have the same proliferation of midfield players in their ranks. In addition to Lionel Messi, Pedro Rodriguez, Andres Iniesta, Seydou Keita, Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, Ibrahim Afellay, Jeffren Suarez, Alexander Hleb and Xavi, they are also still interested in purchasing Cesc Fabregas. Hazard will be first choice at Lille in a team playing in the Champions League, why would he sacrifice that for a place on the bench, where like Afellay, he could be sidelined to just five minute cameos?

Bayern Munich – Probably a more likely switch than to either Real Madrid or Barcelona, the problem for Bayern is that despite being able to offer him a first team place, Hazard has already stated he wants to move to a big league. Bayern are no doubt a big club but is the switch from France to the German’s Bundesliga really a step up in class for Hazard? Franck Ribery made a similar move from Marseille, and managed to get to a Champions League final in the 2009/10 season but Bayern Munich are not the power they once were, and I doubt a move to Germany is really on the cards.

Arsenal – The Gunners seem to be favourites at this point in time for the player’s signature. For one thing Hazard has stated a number of times during the past that he admires how Arsene Wenger develops players and how he enjoys the football that Arsenal play. The additional fact that there is a lot of French speaking players at the club, with a similar culture to him, as well as the fact he could still play in the Champions League means the London club have to be considered the front runners.

Liverpool – So what do the Reds have to offer? The one thing the other four on this list can’t absolutely guarantee- regular first team football. Hazard would always be one of the first players on the team sheet and would be considered a key player in the Reds revival. It remains to be seen however whether such a challenge would intrigue Hazard. He will certainly respect the clubs history but will it have any sort of pull in bringing him to the club? Lille offer Champions League football while the Reds are not in Europe at all next season so it has to be said, something rather personal would have to be the motivation for the youngster to move to Anfield currently.

Read more of David’s articles at Live4Liverpool

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