Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Gunners Close in on Eden Hazard Transfer

If Mercato 365 reports are to be believed—and, come on, how often do transfer rumors not come true—

Wait, don't answer that.

In all seriousness, it does seem that Arsenal are inching closer to a deal that would bring Belgian wunderkind winger Eden Hazard to the Emirates. The following source is from ESPN Soccernet's transfer blog.

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Mercato 365 believes Arsenal have already reached an agreement with Lille starlet Eden Hazard. However, there's no agreement with the club, apparently. Arsenal, it's said, have had a €30 million bid rejected and are now ready to offer €35 million.

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The 20-year-old sensation was elected Ligue 1 Player of the Year after a 2010-11 campaign (he won Young Player of the Year honors in 2008-09 and 2009-10) that saw him win both the league title and Coupe de France with Lille.

Pegged by French legend Zinedine Zidane as "a star of the future," Hazard would be reunited with former teammate Gervinho should the switch to Arsenal become finalized.

The pair combined brilliantly for Les Dogues on the wings last year, as Lille produced scintillating displays of football rarely seen in the French league, which has long been dismissed for its technical, (i.e. boring) brand of football.

Hazard compiled seven goals and eight assists during the campaign, including a sensational 40-yard strike against Marseille in March.

He is a menace in the attacking third of the pitch, using his extensive "arsenal" of tricks to breeze past defenders as if they were mired in mud. He doesn't so much move on the wing as dance.

Buoyed by his excellent form, Lille amassed 68 goals, good enough to top Ligue 1.

For an Arsenal side that has struggled to find the net in the early going this season, that instinctive sense for finishing—with aplomb, of course (a must if you're to play for the Gunners)—could provide a much-needed spark to get the attack firing.

Reports that Arsenal have finalized a £10m deal for Monaco striker Park Chu-Young—who seemed ready to sign for Lille—appear to have come as a complete surprise to Lille president Michel Seydoux.

"Surprise" being the journalistic euphemism for a president absolutely seething with Arsenal's last-minute charge to snap up the South Korean international captain's services.

Whether that will affect the Hazard proceedings—i.e. drive up Lille's asking price—remains to be seen.

If Wenger does ante up and finalize the deal, Arsenal will have two young, top-level wingers within the side (I still consider Andrei Arshavin an attacking midfielder, the position he plays when on duty with Russia.)

That may be enough to change Arsenal's customary 4-3-3 formation, employed since the beginning of the 2009-10 season. You wouldn't peg the frugal Arsene to pay €35 million just to sit Hazard on the bench.

Hazard is most comfortable on the left wing, so he'd likely push Gervinho back to the right, where the Ivorian excelled while with Lille.

That addition of quality may well inspire Wenger to revert to the 4-4-2 employed during the majority of his time at Ashburton Grove.

Right winger Theo Walcott, who has been campaigning to be used as a central striker, could be pushed into a combination with Robin van Persie up top to make room for Hazard and Gervinho in the first eleven.

Though it's a bit late to be trying out new formations, the addition of Hazard is enough to push the envelope. It's a good problem to have, so to speak.

Jack Wilshere is an unquestioned starter and could slot in at attacking midfielder, in front of holding mid Alex Song.

Aaron Ramsey would be seemingly be forced to the bench in this formation, and, though the Welshman has enjoyed a bright start to the season, he's been too inconsistent to merit a status as an unequivocal choice in the starting eleven.

In any event, this promises to be an exciting run-in to the end of the summer transfer window (which comes to a close Aug. 31) for Arsenal fans.

The addition of Park Chu-Young, coupled with an experienced defender and perhaps Hazard, would be a vital injection to this squad, which would be thrown back into the title-contender discussion overnight.

Look what the signing of a talented, wily playmaker did for Liverpool last winter. Luis Suarez's quality is still sending opposing defenses reeling as they search for ways to contain his boundless energy.

Hazard could potentially have a similar impact for the Gunners. And at this point, that would be a welcome impact indeed.