Chelsea star Eden Hazard almost signed for Tottenham after tip off from Joe Cole, Harry Redknapp tells talkSPORT

Chelsea star Eden Hazard almost signed for Tottenham after tip off from Joe Cole, Harry Redknapp tells talkSPORT
Harry Redknapp has told talkSPORT how he was close to signing Eden Hazard for Tottenham during his spell as manager.The Belgian was the star man again for Chelsea as the Blues beat Spurs to book their place in the EFL Cup final on Thursday night.But Redknapp says Hazard could have been playing in a Tottenham shirt instead if he had his way, saying the winger was keen to join the north London club before he eventually moved to Stamford Bridge in 2012.After receiving a tip off from Joe Cole, who played in his West Ham team, Redknapp took a number of trips to Lille to watch a young Hazard in action and told Tottenham to make the signing happen.But nothing came of it.2

Redknapp travelled to Lille several times to watch Hazard in action

Now, Hazard is one of the best and most coveted players in Europe and Spurs will surely be ruing their missed chance, especially after he helped knock them out of the cup.Speaking on Fridays Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Redknapp explained: I tried to sign him for Tottenham.Joe Cole was playing with him at Lille and Joe rang me saying, Harry, Im playing with a boy at Lille and hes the best player Ive ever played with, and Joe played with some top players at Chelsea.So I went over to Lille four times, but the first time I saw enough, I knew. I kept turning up trying to actually meet with him. I watched to have a chat with him.Eventually I met with him in a hotel and spent an hour or so chatting with him.He wanted to come to Tottenham at that time, but unfortunately the deal didnt get done. It was a shame.2

Harry Redknapp told Tottenham to sign Hazard, but the deal did not happen

I was over there all the time.Joe put me onto him in the first place when he was very young, hes just a genius.

"Joe Cole was with Hazard at Lille… he told me he's the best player he'd ever played with.""I went four or five times to watch him.""I met Hazard in a hotel and he wanted to come to Spurs."Harry Redknapp reveals he tried to bring @HazardEden10 to #THFC pic.twitter.com/pBvCPgwzIn— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 25, 2019

Redknapp also admitted he was stunned by Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarris recent criticism of his star player.The Italian boss, who slammed his teams mentality following last weekends 2-0 defeat to Arsenal,challenged Hazard to do more for the teamand branded him more an individual player than a leader.I dont know how Sarri can criticise Hazard every time he gets the ball the game changes, Redknapp added.Hes just amazing. His strengthen on the ball, his ability to change direction and change pace, he really is a fantastic player.Listen back to Harry Redknapp on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast IN FULL above

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