According to reports, Arsenal are keeping tabs on Borussia Monchengladbach’s star midfielder Thorgan Hazard. More popularly known as Eden Hazard’s younger brother, the Belgian had a decent season with the Bundesliga side giving Chelsea second thoughts about letting him leave in 2015.
After a poor domestic as well as European campaign, the North-London side is eyeing to come back stronger next season with some major signings as well as retaining their star players. If long-serving manager, Arsene Wenger, is to stay at the helm for one or more seasons, the first thing he has to do is appease the fans with big names, and most importantly keep their best player.
Arsenal are in constant negotiation with their star player Alexis Sanchez for a contract extension. He is a hot transfer prospect across Europe and Arsenal’s problems were further compounded by Chinese clubs willing to offer him astronomical wages. The Chilean has been coy on his future for long now to increase his wages, and the latest offer by Arsenal has reportedly brought the sum up to £270,000 per week.
The 28-year old has been Arsenal’s best player this season featuring in almost every game, but Arsenal don’t really have a potential back-up for the player in that attacking midfield position. Thorgan Hazard looks like a good option.
The 24-year-old excels in the playmaking role as his eye to find incisive passes and ability to hold the ball under intense pressure is extraordinary. Monchengladbach couldn’t end their domestic campaign on a high as they missed out of the Europa League by finishing in the 9th position, but Hazard has been a significant player for the side becoming their third highest scorer.
Arsenal are likely to face tough competition from the likes of Everton and Chelsea in landing the player, but Chelsea might have lost the player’s faith after they disposed of him two years back. Apart from them, Arsenal definitely have the upper hand over Everton although they couldn’t qualify for the Champions League this season.
An academy product of RC Lens, Chelsea picked him up back in 2012 and sent him on a loan for two years immediately to Belgian side SV Zulte Waregem. It was followed by a move to Monchengladbach, where a successful stint ended in a permanent move for the player. His contract with the German side ends in 2019, although the club is willing to cash in on him in the region of £15.6m (€18m).
There was a concern with a reported buy-back clause that Chelsea had on the player, but Gladbach’s sporting director denied any such things. Speaking to media, Max Eberl said, “There is no clause. But we do not need to make any secrets: If we get a player from Chelsea, then Chelsea has always the possibility to think about that player in whatever form, but actually not [an] active [clause].”
