Reds make move for £20m starlet

Liverpool have made a formal approach for £20million-rated rising star Eden Hazard.

Anfield chiefs asked the young winger's French side Lille to keep them informed of all developments in the close-season chase for the Belgium international.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is ready to battle it out with other interested parties, such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid, for the signature of one of the finest new talents in European football.

Hazard won't come cheap. He has been valued at £20million by Lille, and is sure to command a massive fee with such a clamour for his services from the top clubs.

Liverpool believe they may have an edge in their attempts to sign the midfielder though, as they have already illustrated they can give first team opportunities to young players.

They will offer the 20-year-old a fast-track into the first team and, even though the Anfield side will not be in the Champions League next season, that could persuade the player to ignore the more obvious claims of other clubs.

Hazard said this week he is ready to move to a "big club" in the summer, but in the past has insisted he is not motivated merely by money and will instead make the move based on a clearly defined career path.

Liverpool will not be put off by the size of the fee, because they are ready to spend big if the player fits in with their new transfer policy and, as a youngster with plenty of room for future growth, Hazard fits that profile perfectly.

He can play wide on either flank or in an attacking midfield role and is an ideal recruit for the Reds, who are looking for reinforcements in all those positions.

Hazard has a contract until 2015, but has indicated he will sit down in the summer and decide his future then, with a move now becoming increasingly likely.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have announced a hike in ticket prices for next season that will be in line with the current inflation rate of around 4%, with season ticket prices rising by a similar figure after the new VAT rates are taken into account.

Source: Daily Mirror

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