Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has spoken of missing out on Chelsea star Eden Hazard.

The Belgian caught the eye of Redknapp - the then Spurs boss - in 2012.

Redknapp revealed in his new book 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Football Manager': "I went to Lille to watch Eden Hazard three times when I was Tottenham manager.

“And, although we spent several hours speaking to him at a hotel in Paris, it was mega money and we could not quite persuade him once Chelsea reached the Champions League - by somehow beating Barcelona and Bayern Munich to win it in 2012.

“You could immediately see that there was something special about him and, as a winger, he is almost a throwback in many ways.

“He has that ability to go from standing still to suddenly accelerating, which is something that is quire rare, but which a lot of the best wingers could do.

“He reminded me a little bit of the great Jimmy Johnstone at Celtic.

“Like Jimmy, Hazard would also slow people down but still keep the ball and then suddenly go and leave the full-back for dead.

“We had no doubts that he could develop into one of the world's best players."