Hazard tipped to be a hit with Chelsea

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:BELGIUM PLAYMAKER Eden Hazard has been backed by his international team-mates to be a major hit in English football.

Hazard looks set to join Chelsea from French side Lille after he wrote on Twitter Monday evening: “I’m signing for the champion’s league winner”.

There has been no official confirmation yet from either club about any deal, but reports have suggested the 21-year-old, who has been rated at €32 million, has agreed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Despite his Twitter comments, Hazard – likely to feature for his country against England in Saturday’s friendly at Wembley – was giving away nothing yesterday at Belgium’s training camp in Liege, responding to a question about Chelsea by saying: “I do not speak English.”

Other members of the Belgium squad were more forthcoming on the matter, though, with Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen expressing his confidence that Hazard will become a big favourite of English football fans.

Vermaelen told Sky Sports News: “He is a great player with a lot of special qualities. I think he is a player people go to the stadiums for.

“People will love him and love watching him playing football, so I think he is a good player for the Premier League.”

Fulham’s Mousa Dembele, an attacker like Hazard, feels his compatriot has the attributes to thrive in the English top flight – and any other competition.

“It is a good competition for him,” Dembele said.

“I think he can succeed in every team because he is a fantastic player and I think they will like him very much in England.”