Redknapp: Tottenham came close to signing Hazard

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Redknapp: Tottenham came close to signing Hazard

The Belgium winger was in talks with the White Hart Lane outfit in 2012 but instead moved to Stamford Bridge from Lille following the Blues' Champions League triumph

QPR manager Harry Redknapp has revealed Eden Hazard was in talks over a move to Tottenham before signing for Chelsea.

The Belgium winger spent time talking to Redknapp while he was with Lille in 2012, but instead moved to Stamford Bridge after Roberto Di Matteo's side won the Champions League in May of that season.
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And the former West Ham boss, who takes his Rs side to west London on Saturday to take on Hazard and his Chelsea team-mates, believes the 23-year-old was keen on a move to White Hart Lane.

"I think he was dead keen to come at that time," he told reporters. "Joe Cole said he thought he was the best player he ever played with.

"He’s a fantastic talent and a great player. We pushed on for him. We just couldn’t get it over the line."

Jose Mourinho's side remain unbeaten in all competitions this season and sit four points clear at the top of the Premier League after their 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

And Redknapp believes that after the signing of Diego Costa - who is fit to return from a hamstring injury against the Loftus Road outfit - from Atletico Madrid, the Blues do not have a weakness in their squad.

"Chelsea have got such a strong team – there’s not a weakness there. They’ve got power and great ability in a player like Costa.

"You didn’t have to be a clever man to buy the centre-forward. Anyone that’s got a television and has watched Spanish football knew they were signing the best centre-forward in Europe in Diego Costa.

"He was the biggest certainty you’ve ever seen. You don’t have to be a genius, you just have to have the 30-odd million he cost."