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.

Arsenal & Chelsea Tracking Belgian Starlet

Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly tracking Belgian starlet Eden Hazard of Ligue 1 side Lille in France.

Both the Blues and the Gunners are understood to be sending scouts to watch the 17-year-old midfielder, who is expected to make his International debut for Belgium against Luxembourg on Wednesday.

Hazard 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.

Should Rowley and Arnesen decide that Hazard possesses the qualities to succeed in the Premiership then a tug-of-war for the attacking-midfielder could happen in January, with both clubs eager to snap up Hazard, who is regarded as on of Europe’s finest young prospects.