Finishing in a Champions League spot can make all the difference in the transfer window as Tottenham cruelly found out.
Spurs were close to agreeing a deal for Eden Hazard in 2012 as the then-Lille star was keen on a move.
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It looked like a three-way shootout between Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, one that the Blues would go on and win, paying £32m for the young star.
But Hazard revealed his first choice was actually Tottenham – up until they missed out on Champions League football.
“It’s true that Tottenham tempted me because it was a young team which was third in the league,” Hazard told France Football in September 2012.
“Unfortunately, the end of the season did not go well. They did not reach the Champions League, which tipped the balance.”
Manager Harry Redknapp told talkSPORT in 2019 that Hazard’s teammate Joe Cole made him aware of his talent.
“He rang me saying,’ Harry, I’m playing with a boy at Lille and he’s the best player I’ve ever played with’, and Joe played with some top players at Chelsea.
“So I went over to Lille four times, but the first time I saw enough. I knew. I kept turning up trying to actually meet with him.
“Eventually I met with him in a hotel and spent an hour or so chatting with him.
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“He wanted to come to Tottenham at that time, but unfortunately the deal didn’t get done. It was a shame.
“I was over there all the time.
“Joe put me onto him in the first place when he was very young, he’s just a genius.”
Tottenham might feel aggrieved that they did not get their man – especially after actually finishing in the top four.
However, Chelsea, who finished sixth in the Premier League that season, went on to win the Champions League in extraordinary circumstances.
Their nail-biting win over Bayern Munich on penalties meant they took the final Champions League spot over Spurs, a rule that has since changed, as only four clubs from England could play in the competition.
Spurs had been in the top three for most of the season only for a poor end to the campaign, allowing Arsenal to pip them to third.
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It also saw poor Redknapp lose his job while Hazard would go on to become a Chelsea legend, playing at Stamford Bridge for seven years, winning the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.
To further rub salt in the wounds, the mercurial Belgian would even go on to halt Tottenham’s chances of winning the Premier League in 2016.
At the infamous clash dubbed ‘The Battle of the Bridge’, Spurs relinquished a two-goal lead when Hazard scored a beauty to level up the scores.
It meant Leicester could not be caught in their fairytale season where they won the Premier League title.
Despite both United and City also interested in Hazard’s services, the winger made the move to Chelsea even though he was not that convinced over their playing-style.
He added: “The directors told me they were going to recruit good players with whom I could play decent football.
“Marko Marin, Oscar and me, we like to have the ball at our feet.
“Juan Mata likes the ball, so does Ramires. The title of European champions, and Champions League qualification, counted for a lot because the club was not doing well in the league.
“Once Chelsea won the final, it was a natural choice.”
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