Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay could be the epicenter of a bidding war between North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, with Newcastle in the fray as well.
Afellay spent most of last season recovering from a knee surgery, and with the Catalan club looking to strengthen their squad, they have decided to offload Afellay who is deemed surplus to their requirements at Camp Nou. The Dutchman is currently on national duty and impressed in the recent 5-0 hammering of Northern Ireland in a friendly.
Barcelona are understood to be looking for a fee of around £6m which is likely to be met by his Premier League suitors. The 26 year old will be keen on playing Champions League football and hence could likely opt to sign for Arsenal, though his wage demands could be an issue given Wenger’s rigid wage structure at the club. Harry Redknapp has been a long term admirer of the Dutchman and has failed twice in landing him previously.
Newcastle have emerged as another possible destination for Afellay, with the Magpies willing to offer him an attractive salary but it remains to be seen if the former PSV midfielder can be persuaded into joining them. Arsenal are currently the frontrunners to land him given their club captain’s personal relations with Afellay, but with both Tottenham and Newcastle likely to offer higher wages, it is interesting to see what the player opts for; Champions League football or higher pay.