Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is eager to avoid a summer auction for Lille star Eden Hazard. The People says Blues technical director Michael Emenalo was in Marseille last week to watch Hazard play for Lille - fuelling speculation that the Belgian play-maker could be heading for Stamford Bridge before the January window closes.

Emenalo's trip to France is a clear sign that boss Andre Villas-Boas is stepping up his pursuit of the 21-year-old, who is also being courted by Manchester United and Arsenal as well as Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Villas-Boas would prefer to land the youngster now rather than risk the scramble of an auction in the summer.