Eden Hazard could be set for a shock return to the Premier League as Aston Villa are very keen to have him in their ranks.
According to Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is ready to bet big on Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard and is looking for a surprising swoop in January.
Emery replaced Steven Gerrard and saw the Villans clinch a 4-0 win over Brentford in the first game following the announcement. But Aston Villa fell to an uncharacteristic defeat in the next game as Newcastle United thrashed them 4-0 to hand them a reality check in the Premier League.
Hazard cost Real Madrid a staggering £100 million when they bought him from Chelsea in 2019. The Belgian international has endured a tough time in Spain, and his persistent injury issues have been a catalyst in his downfall at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He has managed a meagre four goals in 51 La Liga matches so far and has fallen down the pecking order in the Spanish capital. Hazard’s absence has not been felt much as the likes of Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema have encountered every situation with ease.
There won’t be many suitors who would be able to match Real Madrid’s demands as they would like to recoup as much as possible from an interested party. Aston Villa do not usually break the bank hefty finances, but Emery is ready to pull off his magic once again.
The former Arsenal manager will need to convince the player about his project, and Hazard could revive his career following the path of Philippe Coutinho. Once a Barcelona outcast, Coutinho proved his worth in the Premier League once again and took a wage cut to cement his place in the Aston Villa starting lineup.
A similar kind of tactic could be used by Hazard, who will be captaining Belgium in the upcoming World Cup. Should the Real Madrid misfit improve his performances on the bigger stage, Emery would be adamant to seal a deal for the former Chelsea winger as soon as the tournament wraps up.
A loan deal with an option to buy would suit both clubs as Aston Villa won’t be able to afford his transfer fee as it stands.
