HARRY REDKNAPP has revealed Tottenham came close to signing ex-Chelsea star Eden Hazard in 2012.
The Belgian wizard joined the Blues from French side Lille in 2012 but then-Spurs boss Redknapp claims they were pipped to the post by their London rivals.
Ex-Tottenham manager Redknapp revealed he came close to signing Eden Hazard during his time at the club
Redknapp explained to Sky Sports how Chelsea’s Champions League triumph that year meant Spurs missed out on the now Real Madrid man – and instead watched him enjoy eight largely successful years in blue.
He said: “I lost Eden Hazard, he wanted to come to Tottenham but he said he would only come if we got Champions League football.
“We finished fourth that year, Chelsea finished sixth, they won the Champions League and we didn’t make it.
“He ended up going to Chelsea.”
Spurs occupied third place for much of the 2011-12 season but a poor run of form saw them slip to fourth, causing them to miss out on Champions League football when Chelsea beat Bayern Munich on penalties to lift the trophy that year.
Redknapp had hoped to team Hazard with Gareth Bale, who was starring for Spurs at the time during his first spell at the club, in a bid to end the north London outfit’s long wait for a league title.
Bale is now back with Spurs after seven years at Real Madrid and Redknapp believes the Welshman can help Jose Mourinho and Co challenge for the Premier League title.
He said: “If you ask me honestly I think they’ll make top four.
“I think they could even win the league this year, I know people are going to think I’m crazy.
“I look at that squad, it looks like it could be an open year, look at the results at the weekend.
“I’m telling you that is some squad they’ve got, they have cover in every position.
“Every position they’re strong, it’s a real powerful squad.”
Inside Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks mansion which ex-Tottenham boss is selling for £7million
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
