Any January transfer gossip surrounding Eden Hazard and Moussa Sow appears to be totally without substance with the Ligue 1 side Lille looking to keep in touch with PSG in a bid to replicate last year’s title success.
However, the club nicknamed the Mastiffs are resigned to losing their two biggest stars – who between them have scored over a third of their goals already this term – next summer with a host of big-name clubs waiting to pounce.
The future of the exuberantly gifted Hazard probably resides in Spain with Barcelona his preferred option but Madrid his most likely destination.
For 25-year old hit man Sow England awaits. The Senegalese striker has been linked to everyone from Spurs to Liverpool but long-term admirer Arsene Wenger has an ace up in his sleeve in the shape of Marouane Chamakh that makes the Gunners firm favourites for Sow’s signature.
Chamakh has struggled to make any great impression on British soil since his switch from Bordeaux in May ’10 and is deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates. A return to France looks to be on the cards and Lille are one of three clubs who have shown real interest in the Moroccan flop. They view him as a quality replacement for the departing Sow and a swap-plus-cash deal may well suit both parties with Arsenal keen to off-load their mis-firing front man and Lille confident they can resurrect his waning powers.
Sow meanwhile would be a welcome addition to the Premier League; schooled at Clairfontaine he possesses an exciting combination of predatory instincts, searing pace and an admirable work ethic that should see him settle in his new combative environment.
Wenger has a decent track record of making silk purses from sow’s ears. In Moussa he already has the whole package ready to explode on our shores.
