Hazard Watch: Lille Sell Star Forward - But Not The Belgian One
by Graham MacAree on Jan 27, 2012 4:57 PM GMT
in Chelsea FC: Transfer Rumours & News
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I'm not entirely sure what to make of this. Ligue 1 side Lille, best known around these parts for being the home of a certain Chelsea transfer target named Eden Hazard, have just sold one of their star forwards to Turkish side Fenerbache. Moussa Sow, currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal (although he will return after the group stages), is heading to Istanbul for a fee of around €13M.
The front line of Sow, Gervinho and Hazard was pivotal to Lille's success in taking the Ligue 1 crown last year, and now there's just Hazard left. It's surprising to me that they'd let Sow, who scored 25 goals last season and is second on the team with six this campaign, go while they're in the middle of challenging for a Champions League spot. It may well be that Lille have decided to punt the race for the top three and cash in on their hottest properties while they still can - or equally, they could have decided to sell one of their best players but keep key man Hazard in the hopes that he can get them to the Champions League himself.
I'm tending towards option one, but I think that's because I want Hazard to be available so badly I'm biasing myself. If Lille, who are currently four points back of Montpellier but barely ahead of Marseille, Lyon and Rennes are going into firesale mode, it'd be a shock if the Blues can't land the man who should probably be their top transfer target this window. Interesting times ahead.
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This makes no sense to me.
If they were going to cash in on someone, it would be Hazard. €13m isn’t going to go very far in replacing him or strengthening other areas. It’s not like they have someone else or that he was out of favour. Logically, you’d expect them to sell Hazard, keep Sow, and put the money into other areas. I know I also fall into the “I want this to be a fire sale” category, but I just can’t see why they’d do this now. Even if they’ve given up on the Champions League and conceded that they’re going to lose Hazard, they’d be better off selling now, when prices are likely to be higher.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
Not that Hazard is going to be much cheaper in the summer, mind.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
by Kevin Kostka on Jan 27, 2012 5:13 PM GMT up reply actions
Nolan Roux
Lille spent €8m to bring in Nolan Roux from Brest a few days ago. I don’t know the reason they let Moussa Sow go, but Garcia appears to have seen this coming.
by Robert Barritt on Jan 27, 2012 5:19 PM GMT up reply actions
It stil seems odd to me.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
by Kevin Kostka on Jan 27, 2012 5:27 PM GMT up reply actions
Not disagreeing
Certainly doesn’t clear anything up regarding their Hazard intentions.
by Robert Barritt on Jan 27, 2012 5:49 PM GMT up reply actions
MAYBE!!
we have agreed on a kalou + cash deal for hazard. This could make sense :)
sow deserves better
based on the team he went too and the amount he cost, he seems under rated
by blue_is_the_colour on Jan 27, 2012 5:31 PM GMT reply actions
BUT!
They have Joe Cole on loan… duh, guys. They’re pretty much saved.
Neymar, Goetze, Hazard, Moura...
The thing with these guys is that they are so over-hyped that they will be sold for ridiculous amounts and would be harder to convince to come to Chelsea because all big clubs are interested in them. Thus I’m pretty sure Barcelona and Madrid are on top of their list of places to go. What you’re left with is countless speculation. I think we’ll be better off to search elsewhere. Personally I hate the speculation and hope associated with a big transfer that might happen, for example that summer when we were supposed to get Neymar. Totally ruined it for me :(
by el chelsea fuerte on Jan 27, 2012 5:34 PM GMT reply actions
There's only a certain number of spots open at Barca or Madrid
I wouldn’t fret too much
by Graham MacAree on Jan 27, 2012 5:35 PM GMT up reply actions
I'm worried...
I just feel as though waiting till the Summer to bid for these A-list players is going to have us on the outside looking in AGAIN.
Man U, Arsenal, Real, Barça, Bayern, Inter, AC Milan, PSG and perhaps City will all be in for these players and I could just see us being disappointed once again… Seems like these sorts are only interested in Chelsea if we are willing to spend big bucks to build the squad again, I’m just not sure we’re looking to invest huge amounts to get it done.
I don't see many of those teams having the need
Utd, Barca, Real, City, AC Milan
or the spending power
Arsenal
for someone like Hazard.
Many don't have the need but still buy
Its been like that for years the rich get richer…
Its never been about need
its always about want with these clubs. You really think Barca needed Sanchez? or Real needed Sahin?
The rich get richer…
Sanchez is now the first-choice starter at Barcelona
You have a point with Sahin, but I don’t think you can realistically look at Pedro or David Villa and conclude that they’re better than Sanchez – he’s shown that this year.
by Graham MacAree on Jan 27, 2012 6:44 PM GMT up reply actions
Yes...
Buying Sanchez has made them better; that’s pretty much what every team is trying to do with every transfer.
i don't know if it was needed
to be honest the team last year looked better
Yup but teams like Real don't
sell they just buy and buy and buy some more. Its really ridiculous
sahin hasnt done squat this season and there is real concern over his knees. im uncertain about him
I know that if right he is a hell of a player
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you.
As a matter of fact don't let nothin' hold you back.
If the Scatman can do it brother so can you.
Yo I'm the Scatman.
But United, Inter, Milan, PSG, and City are all almost certainly out of the market for Hazard.
United and the Italians are pretty broke, City have no need for a player like him, and Lille have said many times that they’re not selling within France. That leaves Barca, Real, Arsenal, and us. Barca doesn’t need him, Arsenal are unlikely to spend so much, and should miss out on the Champions League. Therefore, it’s down to Madrid and us, and we can offer as much, financially, as Real, and can offer both better assurances of playing time, and a greater Belgian presence. It’s a similar story with the rest of the big guys. There is simply not going to be that much competition.
Author and Official Fernando Torres Apologist for We Ain't Got No History!
by Kevin Kostka on Jan 27, 2012 6:06 PM GMT up reply actions
But between Madrid or Chelsea
I’m sure a player would easily choose Madrid ahead of us.
But Graham has a good point in that Madrid or Barcelona cannot take all of the talents. Nevertheless though, it’s hard to attract these type of players and usually the probability of them coming is low, which is why I would hate relying on them coming even if we have plenty of time in the summer to bid.
One thing I was wondering though, a lot of people seem to be worried that if we get Willian we won’t get Hazard. Is Willian not good enough to ever start for us, and is it necessary to get Hazard to build a WC team? I will admit I haven’t watched both of them enough to form an opinion of them, but the mood on that issue surprises me. I also doubt whether the club will want to spend around 60m pounds (20-24m on Willian and around 40m for one of these guys) to sign players for the attack because we already have Sturridge & Mata, which is why this issue is important.
by el chelsea fuerte on Jan 27, 2012 6:14 PM GMT up reply actions
I agree and I will also go on record to say
If we sign Willian that would mark the end of our pursuit for Hazard, Gotze and Moura. It will be one of those players not two especially with the purchase of DeBruyne nearing completion. Strange though, in AVB’s interview today he seemed a bit standoffish about DeBruyne, like he doesn’t rate him that highly and that this is more the club’s ambition not his to acquire him… anyway.
I would say the summer will be spent finding one ace and a few diamonds in the rough in the vain of the Vargas kid or Davila. Can’t see Roman opening up the coffers too much to get us two aces.
I'm not convinced..
Anything can happen in the summer transfer window. Remember when we were the odds on favourite to grab Aguero or more recently Pastore? Keep in mind the only reason we have hope for landing Hazard is because his agent thinks Roman is might be willing to invest money into rebuilding the team to one of Europe’s elite. What type of money did they have in mind? the £8M for Cahill or the £50m we spent on Torres? If its the latter I don’t think Hazard will be in the Chelsea jersey this year. I have a strong feeling we’re are going to be very conscious of our spending going forward and if teams are looking for those extremely high transfer fees(upwards of £35M) I have a feel they will be disappointed. Having said that I really think in order to acquire one of these players its going to take a bid well north of £30m… I just doubt we bid that high and then spend more cash to shore up other roster spots.
alternative view
Sow isn’t actually that good. If he was, he would have had better offers than Fenerbahce. It’s not the first time they’ve gone down this route, remember Dani Guiza?
I suspect Lille are delighted with this sale. Sow had a fantastic season but he was made to look better than he is in an attack-minded team. He had Hazard, Cabaye and Gervinho teeing him up, I wouldn’t say he’s a one season wonder but at 26 it’s unlikely he will ever scale such heights again.
I think Fenerbahce have overpaid. A similar fee to what Newcastle have paid for Cissewould be about right. And Roux is a better all round player.
I don’t see this sale having any effect on what happens with Hazard.
Cisse and Sow cost basically the same
Cisse went for 12 million Euros (10 million pounds), Sow went for 13 (10.9)
by Stephen Schmidt on Jan 27, 2012 5:48 PM GMT up reply actions
ok
I’m not sure how the Sow fee is staggered, I was under the impression the Cisse deal may eventually reach £10m but initial fee was a fair bit less than Sow. I think they’re worth about the same right now, though I expect Cisse to eventually prove better value for money.
I actually like Cisse more than Sow as well
But I love Cisse.
by Graham MacAree on Jan 27, 2012 6:37 PM GMT up reply actions
MAYBE!!
we have agreed on a kalou + cash deal for hazard. This could make sense :)
I think is the latter, i think lille knows that sow was not gonna have a season like that again so they decided to sell.
I think they are going to eventually sell hazard, but to me its a summer move.
Everybody stutters one way or the other
So check out my message to you.
As a matter of fact don't let nothin' hold you back.
If the Scatman can do it brother so can you.
Yo I'm the Scatman.
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