HARRY REDKNAPP SAYS TOTTENHAM MISSED EDEN HAZARD TRANSFER

Harry Redknapp says Tottenham Hotspur missed the chance to sign Eden Hazard from Lille because Daniel Levy would not approve the fee. Redknapp, who managed Tottenham at the time, put the proposed cost at about £18 million. He said Hazard wanted to join the north London club and met him and his agent to discuss a move. Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012.

Redknapp said Joe Cole, who played alongside Hazard at Lille, first urged him to watch the winger. Cole told him: “I’m playing with the best player I’ve ever played with.” Redknapp said he travelled to watch Hazard and met him in a hotel room with his agent. He recalled making more than one trip to see the player before Tottenham’s pursuit ended.

Redknapp also recalled two other transfers he failed to complete during his managerial career. While at Bournemouth in the mid-1980s, he said Carl Richards asked him to give his friend Ian Wright a trial, but Redknapp declined after questioning Richards about Wright’s ability. Redknapp said he signed Richards from Enfield for £10,000. He also said he met Patrick Vieira at Vieira’s house to discuss a possible move to Tottenham.