Eden Hazard Bids Farewell to Lille as Belgian Nears Premier League Move

Lille playmaker Eden Hazard has confirmed that he will be leaving the French club at the end of the season.

The Belgian, who has been crowned Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester City leading the race for his signature. "Two games more to play in the colours of LOSC... Sniff," he tweeted.

Hazard, arguably the most sought after young talent in European football, has been in sublime form for his club this season with 17 goals and 16 assists in 36 league appearances so far. Several European giants including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan were linked to the Belgian but he had recently stated he fancies a move only to the Premier League.

According to an earlier IBTimes UK report, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and City manager Roberto Mancini have both expressed their interest in the midfielder. The 21 year old's availability was expected to trigger a bidding war among the English heavyweights, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs, in addition to the two Manchester clubs all having expressed their interest in the player.

The Lille star, who attended the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago, dropped a hint that he will join City in the summer by revealing that he will definitely be wearing blue next season.

"It's the blue that I'll be wearing next season. Definitely the blue," ESPN quoted the player as saying. Hazard, whose contract at Lille runs until 2015, is valued at around £35 million.

City captain Vincent Kompany is close to signing a new five-year deal with the club, according to The Sun.

The report says that City are now hopeful that Kompany will commit future to the club. The 26-year-old, who was recently named Barclays Premier League Player of the Year, has two years left on his current deal.

The Belgian has led City to the verge of their first league title in 44 years. The Citizens can now lift the Premier League trophy if they beat relegation battling Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.