Arsenal and Real Madrid’s €35m target confirms his summer 2012 exit

Arsene Wenger was put on high alert this morning over the availability of Real Madrid and PSG target Eden Hazard, who confirmed that he will leave Lille in summer 2012.

20-year-old Belgian international Hazard was part of the league and cup-winning Lille side last year and has already seen former teammate Gervinho join the Gunners earlier this summer. In addition to that, he has another tie to the North London club - his cousin is Arsenal's top centre-back Thomas Vermaelen.

However, it's likely that Hazard could be more tempted to a move to Madrid next summer, especially if Wenger's nonetheless resurgent side fail to make Champions League football.

"I am ready to go to the next level at a big club," Hazard told French daily L'Equipe. "I won't leave in January. It would be silly to do so. But it's my last season at Lille.

"I stayed with Lille this year because I still had things to work on and prove. But now I'm ready. I feel able to play in another country."

When asked whether he would join the Qatari-rich PSG, Hazard said that fans "would not understand" if he left Lille for a Ligue 1 rival.

"Paris is not for now. Paris is magical, as they say. Of course it attracts me. But for now, no, I will not go there," he said.

"I do not want to go to a rival of Lille's in France. It would be inconsistent. The fans would not understand."