Gunners Planning Double Swoop On Lille?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning a double swoop for Eden Hazard and Yohan Cabaye, who both play for Ligue 1 side Lille, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to French newspaper L'Equipe.

17-year-old Hazard, who is also being tracked by the Gunners Premiership rivals Chelsea, first came to prominence during last summers Under-17 European Championships. Which is when the youngster caught the eye of Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen along with Steve Rowley, who is the chief scout at the Emirates Stadium.



However, Hazard signed his first professional contract with Lille recently, which will tie him to the Stadium Lille-Metropole until 2012. This is sure to drive up any transfer fee for the talented midfielder, who Wenger had watched recently, when Hazard made his senior debut for Belgium against Luxembourg.

22-year-old Cabaye has been at Lille since 2001 and has come through the academy at the French side, with the midfielder already making over 100 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since his senior debut in 2004. Like Hazard, Cabaye is also tied to a long-term contract at LOSC, with his present deal running until 2013.

Wenger is expected to make a swoop for both players in January, with reports in France suggesting that Cabaye is ready to end his seven-year stay at Les Dogues and join the Premier League club.