• Belgian 'excited' to be watched by Sir Alex Ferguson
• 21-year-old also on Real Madrid's shopping list
Eden Hazard has claimed he was "excited" by the presence of Sir Alex Ferguson on Saturday for Lille's 2-1 defeat at Lyon. The 21-year-old is already reportedly a target for Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Ferguson made the trip to France 24 hours before Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion. The Belgian playmaker told the French newspaper La Voix du Nord: "Of course [United interest me], this is a club that excites everyone, but for now my focus is on Lille. But yes, it is a pleasure to be watched by one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best."
United require a creative midfielder who can score goals, with Hazard, who has scored 11 in 24 league starts this season, probably representing a cheaper option with regard to fee and salary than Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder, who came close to joining last summer and who has stated he would still like to do so.
United, though, would also face a fight from Chelsea and Spurs, with the latter's manager, Harry Redknapp, saying only this week: "Our owner is ready to pay for an exceptional talent like Eden Hazard.
"I have seen him several times. But I know Manchester United are also following him very closely. City, too. It will be difficult to sign him. But I love him. Last year, I loved Gervinho too [before the forward moved from Lille to Arsenal]."
Hazard has previously said he would be open to a move to La Liga, where Real Madrid have expressed an interest in him, with Zinedine Zidane, who is the sporting director at the Bernabéu, saying: "I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed."