Chelsea are set to break the bank to snatch Belgian wonderkid Eden Hazard from the grasp of Manchester’s big two.
Roman Abramovich has sanctioned a £30million swoop for the 21-year-old Lille winger and is set to hand him a five-year deal worth a staggering £100m – after tax.
That works out at almost £200,000 a week – an offer that will almost certainly blow both City and United out of the race.
Sources in France last night suggested that Hazard’s agent, John Bico, had travelled to London to seal the deal.
And Hazard’s arrival at Stamford Bridge would be a major signal of intent from owner Abramovich that he will once again spend what it takes to make the Blues a force in the Premier League.
City believed they had won the race for Hazard’s signature when he visited the Etihad Stadium as a guest to watch their 1-0 derby victory over United last month.
But negotiations between the club and Hazard’s advisers hit the buffers this week over their inflated demands.
Sunday Mirror Sport understands that City were close to agreeing a pay package that would have eventually seen the Belgian join the club’s top earners.
But the deal stalled over other “associated costs” being demanded by the player’s advisers.
With United haemorrhaging £250,000 a day to service debts of £420m, City were still confident that negotiations would eventually resume.
But the newly-crowned champions have been rocked by Chelsea’s late entry into the bidding.
Hazard recently said: “I want to play in the Premier League. It’s the blue that I will be wearing next season. Definitely the blue.”
But now it seems that the hue of the blue could be royal rather than sky.
Sir Alex Ferguson has made several personal checks on Hazard and his desperation to keep the player out of the clutches of Roberto Mancini (above) became even more acute last week when City snatched the title in dramatic fashion.
Ferguson still feels that United need to make a statement of intent. But chief executive David Gill has warned that the club has to remain prudent in the transfer market
Lille plan to open official talks with all three bidders tomorrow, but Chelsea have stolen a march with their mega offer.
Source : Mirror.co.uk
