Manchester City Transfers: 7 Potential Alternatives to Eden Hazard

So it’s (nearly) official: The Blue in England that Eden Hazard is going to sign for is Chelsea, not Manchester City.

While we’ll never truly know whether it’s the wage packet rumored to be on offer or Chelsea’s Champions League win a few weekends ago, this throws a considerable spanner in the City transfer works.

But fear not, for there are quite a few alternatives to Hazard that Roberto Mancini could go after.

Let’s look at seven of them.

First: Perhaps the least-known name on the list.

But Younes Belhanda has starred all season as Montpellier ended the Ligue 1 season with a surprise title win.

Belhanda contributed 12 goals and was rewarded with nominations for both Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, both of which have of course been won by Eden Hazard.

He would cost significantly less than Hazard, and who knows—with a lesser price tag, he might turn out to exceed all expectations.

Source: Daily Mail

Stephane Sessegnon has long turned heads since arriving at the Stadium of Light, and City are rumored to be the latest in line to try and clinch his signing.

Sunderland’s Player of the Year notched seven goals and nine assists in the 2011-2012 Premier League season, establishing himself as one of the best creative attacking threats in England.

Just like Hazard and Belhanda, Sessegnon can operate on either wing and behind the striker.

Source: Daily Mirror

As part of a fearsome front three, Ezequiel Lavezzi has once again impressed at Napoli with Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik.

His versatility and excellent support play has yielded nine Serie A goals this season, while his performances against City in the Champions League group stage will not have gone unnoticed by City manager Roberto Mancini.

A rumored buyout clause of £26 million would certainly not be beyond City’s financial reach.

Source: Metro

Another big-name star who could well be on the move this summer is Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Modric.

After last summer’s public flirtations with Chelsea, Modric ended up staying put at White Hart Lane—but this summer could well prove an entirely different story.

To his credit, Modric’s professionalism shone through as he put in another season of accomplished playmaking displays.

And this summer could be the time that Modric chooses to move onto bigger and better things.

Source: Daily Mail

Also linked to City is Modric’s teammate Gareth Bale.

Another season of fine displays down Tottenham’s left has seen him on the radar of some of Europe’s big clubs, a category that City now belongs in.

His addition would instantly strengthen City’s left flank, and his ability to tear open defences and create chances for his teammates will be very much appreciated at the Etihad.

Source: Daily Mail

Dutch wing wizard Arjen Robben currently has only a year left on his Bayern Munich contract. Cue the rumors.

Bayern’s case will not have been made stronger following Robben’s rumored spat with Franck Ribery and the home crowd’s booing of Robben following Bayern’s loss in the Champions League final.

That was a rare off-day for Robben, who at his best is one of the best wingers in world football.

Getting Robben in a Blue shirt would be some transfer to pull off.

Source: Daily Mail

And, finally, an admittedly far-fetched rumor that involves the kind of money that we ordinary folk can’t even imagine.

It will be an almost impossible task to prise Ronaldo from the Bernabeu and from Jose Mourinho, but imagine Ronaldo playing for Manchester City for just a moment.

City would take some beating.

Hey—stranger things have happened in football.

Source: Daily Mirror

If you liked this article, you might also be interested in Latest City Transfer Rumors. Stay tuned for extensive Euro 2012 coverage on my Bleacher Report writer’s profile, and please check out my blog, The Red Armchair, for Liverpool opinions and match reactions.