---
title: "Aston Villa: Noel Whelan reacts to Eden Hazard transfer rumours"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/eden-hazard-villa-transfer-rumours-noel-whelan-nswe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-11-09T13:05:14Z"
modified: "2022-11-09T13:05:14Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Noel Whelan reacts to Eden Hazard transfer rumours

**[Former BBC pundit](https://icdb.tv/stats/4247/Noel-Whelan) Noel Whelan has been reacting to rumours linking [Aston Villa](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/) with a move for Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard.**

### The Lowdown: Hazard transfer speculation

[Reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/eden-hazard-villa-transfer-latest-emery-keen-nswe/) earlier this month suggested that Unai Emery has given the green light to a potential move and that the Villans see the 31-year-old playing a ‘leading role’ as they look to reinforce their attack.

Hailed as [‘clinical’](https://www.90min.com/posts/carlo-ancelotti-toni-kroos-praise-clinical-eden-hazard) by his manager Carlo Ancelotti, Hazard has netted [200](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/50202) goals for club and country during his career and looks set to feature at the [World Cup](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/world-cup-2022/) later this month as [Belgium’s captain](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/nationalmannschaft/spieler/50202/verein_id/3382).

He will enter the final 18 months of his Bernabeu [contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/profil/spieler/50202) in the New Year, and Whelan has been giving his thoughts on a possible [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) return for the former Chelsea star.

### The Latest: Whelan’s comments

Talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/pundit-cant-believe-aston-villa-could-sign-eden-hazard-after-17-4m-update-from-spain/) regarding Hazard and Villa, Whelan thinks that the Belgian may not be needed in the Midlands and referred to the player’s [injury history](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/verletzungen/spieler/50202).

The 47-year-old said: *“When I look at what they’ve got in that attack, I’m not sure they need him.* *He’s not a player who would be on my radar right now.*

*“There are players already in the squad and the system who can play all the way across that front three – Bailey, Watkins, etc.* *There are so many wide players, now it’s just about finding the right system and the right set-up.*

[Aston Villa latest news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/aston-villa-latest-news-3/)

*“They’ve got the perfect manager for that. If anyone can get a team working, it’s Unai Emery – that’s why he was brought in.*

*“For me, someone like Hazard isn’t the way forward. I think they’ve got more than enough in that area, and there’s always a possibility that Hazard can only give you 20 games a season.”*

### The Verdict: A risk?

Hazard is now 31 and hasn’t had the best of times in Madrid after joining them in 2019. He has suffered [16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/verletzungen/spieler/50202) separate injuries in Spain, so there’s no guarantee of his fitness, which could make a move by NSWE and Villa quite a gamble.

\[freshpress-poll id=”414226″\]

Although he has plenty of [Premier League experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/50202/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/631) and quality, it appears as if Hazard is past his prime, with his [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eden-hazard/marktwertverlauf/spieler/50202) valuation plummeting over the last four years.

It could be one to keep an eye on, though, especially as a recent [update](https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/esports/hazard-confidencia-courtois-desti-decidit-retorn-casa_912462_102.html) name-checked Villa again with a loan-to-buy deal worth €20m (£17.4m) mentioned.