Why Eden Hazard Is the 1 Chelsea Player Manchester United Would Love to Sign

As Manchester United prepare to take on Chelsea, there are fewer jealous eyes cast in the direction of Stamford Bridge than there would have been a month ago. But Eden Hazard's form this season nonetheless makes him the player United, and, frankly, most clubs around the world, would love to sign.

The Red Devils' recent run can be see as evidence that Louis van Gaal's methods have finally clicked. One of the players making it happen has been Juan Mata. The former Chelsea man has finally found a key role at United. Scoring a brace at Anfield and a subsequent goal in the Manchester derby is the stuff that Old Trafford legends are made of.

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However, while Mata's recent form has been a delight for United fans, over the course of the Premier League season, it is Hazard who has been the division's standout attacking midfielder.

The statistics bear this out. Twelve goals means he is joint seventh in the league's goalscoring table, with the only non-striker above him being Alexis Sanchez. Eight assists puts him in joint-fourth place, level with Sanchez.

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However, in the more detailed metrics, he is ahead of Arsenal's Chilean in several significant areas.

He is third in the key-pass table, with only his team-mate Cesc Fabregas and Manchester City's David Silva making more than him in an average game. His 4.8 successful dribbles per game is a full integer above second place—Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 3.8.

He is also the most fouled player in the league, on average, receiving three infractions against him per game. His passing is much more consistent than Sanchez's, too, with 86.9 percent of his passes finding their man, compared to Sanchez's 76.8 percent.

If, in an alternate universe, United were to sign Hazard, it would mean strengthening in an area where they are already loaded with talent rather than addressing key weaknesses.

Much like when they signed Mata, though, it is the absolute quality of the player, rather than his relative impact on United's squad, that would make his acquisition so appealing.

Gary Cahill's form at centre-back has been in-and-out, with him even enduring a brief spell on the sidelines. John Terry's age and historical relationship with United fans makes him a non-starter.

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Branislav Ivanovic would be a reasonable signing, given his fine season at right-back, particularly in terms of his noteworthy attacking contribution. However, it would not be a signing to set the pulse racing in the same way as Hazard would.

Diego Costa would, on the other hand, be an exciting and useful signing and thus takes second place behind the Belgian. The combination of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao looked like the best collection of centre-forwards in the Premier League at the start of the season. It has not worked out that way.

Costa has been a superb match for the Premier League so far and—if United move Falcao and Van Persie on in the summer—would be an excellent addition.

However, it is the fact Hazard combines his consistent statistical contributions with an eye for the unexpected, moments of flair and the ability to get fans out of their seats that makes him such an appealing signing.

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There is a natural fit for him in the system United have been playing in recent weeks, too. He could function superbly in the role Ashley Young has made his own. And as good as Young's recent form has been, Hazard would still count as an upgrade.

Of course, it is a fantasy signing. United's chance of landing Hazard surely passed when the Belgian chose Chelsea as his destination. United signed Shinji Kagawa around the same time and there was some discussion over which player would do better in England. That is a debate that is well and truly settled.

Tribal rivalries aside, Hazard is the one Chelsea player many fans would love to see United sign.

All statistics per WhoScored.com.