Eden Hazard

Former West Ham star Joe Cole, on loan from Liverpool to Lille, hailed Eden Hazard

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Joe Cole, on loan from Liverpool to Lille, likened Eden Hazard to Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi.

The Belgian has attracted attention from Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea and the former Blues and West Ham player was full of praise for the 21-year-old.

“Hazard is different class. He’s still only 21 and has definitely got another few gears to go up. He’s got the same attitude as Rooney at that age - he’s fearless,” Cole said recently.

“He knows how good he is, and that’s a positive. All the top players have got that belief and a bit of presence and arrogance, and he’s like that.

“He’s a bit like Messi. There’s only one Messi and I don’t want to put pressure on the kid, but he’s like him - short, squat, powerful legs, great touch, he can finish, he’s got everything.”

Hazard, who has a release clause of £33million, won the Ligue 1 title with Lille last season but looks certain to leave at the end of the current campaign.