Aston Villa have been tipped as a potential shock transfer destination for former Chelsea star Eden Hazard amid uncertainty surrounding his future at Real Madrid.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti considers Hazard as surplus to his requirements after the 31-year-old Belgian winger’s failed impact at the La Liga club.
Hazard has been plagued with injuries since his £88.5m transfer to Madrid in 2019, with the Los Blancos flop managing only 60 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons.
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The Belgium international, who is under contract until 2024, has been heavily linked with a stunning return to the Premier League.
Newcastle have been leading the race to land the ex-Chelsea ace and reportedly had a £41m bid accepted by Madrid, only for Hazard to shut down the transfer.
Hazard has also attracted interest from Premier League sides West Ham and Everton, with former clubs Lille and Chelsea also linked with the player.
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Former RWD Molenbeek and Feyenoord player Johan Boskamp now believes that Villa could make a sensational swoop for Hazard on a loan deal.
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He claimed that Hazard could leave Madrid in a bid to secure more regular first-team football ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Boskamp said: “I really hope he changes clubs this winter.
“Then maybe he can play 25 games in the next few months. Because if he stays at Real, I don’t think he will play many more games this season.
“And then the World Cup is coming up. It’s a tricky situation. I don’t dare say Chelsea are the answer.
“Eden plays better in a team that has the ball. So I don’t know if he fits into coach Thomas Tuchel’s plans. He has also brought back [Romelu] Lukaku, and that is not going well either.
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“They could also loan Eden to Aston Villa or another club. It doesn’t matter where; he just has to play. That’s the most important thing.”
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was appointed Villa manager last November after the sacking of Dean Smith.
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The Villa manager has already brought in former Liverpool teammate and playmaker Philippe Coutinho to the club on a loan deal from Barcelona.
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Villa have also been linked with Gerrard’s former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez, but a January move for the Atletico Madrid striker has been ruled out.
“We’re not after a centre-forward in this window. That’s as clear as I can be,” Gerrard told reporters on Friday.
“I think during these windows everyone puts two and two together and a lot of names are bandied around and stuff, but I obviously know Luis extremely well.
“He’s top class and has been a world-class footballer throughout his career so I understand the links but we’re not after a centre-forward, whether it be Luis or anybody else in this window.”
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Eden Hazard, Real Madrid, La Liga, Spain, Football, Aston Villa, Premier League, England