Why Arsenal will NOT be buying Eden Hazard this summer

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • 9 Apr 2022 09:45 CDT
  • 5 min read
Eden Hazard, Real Madrid, 2021/22
© ProShots

As one of the biggest and most supported clubs in world football, Arsenal fans are used to routinely finding their club linked with all sorts of bizarre transfer deals.

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Of course, sometimes the club do in fact make bizarre transfers, such as paying £72 million for Nicolas Pepe or £35 million for Shkodran Mustafi but more often than not the daft deals are little more than nonsense thought up by the rumour.

A perfect example of that was clear for all to see this week, when Arsenal found themselves linked with none other than Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard.

According to Foot Mercato, the London club are mulling over a move for the out-of-sorts winger and could sign the player this summer. This, of course, is absolute nonsense for a number of reasons.

Why Arsenal won’t be signing Hazard

Perhaps the most obvious reason why Arsenal won’t be signing Hazard anytime soon is simply down to the fact that the club cannot afford his wages.

The Belgium international’s current deal with Madrid allows him to take home a handsome fee of £20m per season, which is not only far and beyond anything Arsenal could offer but is also twice as much as the club’s highest earner, who is Thomas Partey on around £10m per year.

As such, even if Hazard was willing to half his salary demands, he would still be Arsenal’s highest paid player.

Which, of course, would still cause issues because Hazard remains an extremely injury prone player, having played just 877 minutes of football for Madrid this season.

Add to that the fact that he’s also struggled for form, with just one goal and two assists in all competitions this season and it’s abundantly clear why Arsenal wouldn’t want to risk so much money on the player this summer.

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