Man United, Arsenal & Liverpool target agrees Barca Move

PSV Eindhoven have announced that Ibrahim Afellay, a reported target for some of the top Premier League clubs has agreed to sign for Barcelona.

Despite interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, the talented Holland International who plays in the attacking midfield role as well as the wings is now currently negotiating personal terms with Barcelona over his proposed move to the Spanish giants.

A statement on Barcelona's website read:

 "PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona have reached an agreement on a deal to bring Ibrahim Afellay to Barca, subject to successfully settling personal terms between the player and the Catalan club over the coming weeks.

"Until the deal is finally settled, Ibrahim Afellay wishes to concentrate on the upcoming important games for PSV."

The players' agent Rob Jansen has also confirmed that personal terms are in progress but admitted that this section of the deal could take a while:

"That [agreeing personal terms] is definitely going to take some time," Jansen told Sports Promotion's official website.

"There is certainly no final agreement. When the time comes we will notify the media and the fans through our website."

If the deal is completed, as it is likely to, Afellay will join Barcelona in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee, but one that some reports claim to be only around 2 - 4 million euros.

The talented Dutchman has played for PSV since 2003 and has scored a total of 34 goals in 154 games. After watching videos of the 24 year old, it is easy to understand why there is so much interest in the young man. It is also easy to see why he has chosen to play for Barcelona over Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, with the Spanish clubs fierce attacking force suited to Affelay's attacking play.

He is a creative player, and someone who would certainly walk into the current Liverpool side, while Manchester United - still looking for a future Paul Scholes and with a recent reliance on Nani, would welcome him to Old Trafford. Arsenal's excellent passing ability and attacking play would also suit Afellay, but the lure of playing alongside players such as Lionel Messi among others would have probably swayed his decision. Along with the rather more pleasant weather of Spain.

Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool fight for Dutch playmaker

You may not of heard of Ibrahim Afellay before, but by the summer transfer window, that will have changed. Above is a video of Afellay scoring for his native Holland in the recent International break against Sweden, in which he scored two good goals, as well as delivering a scintillating cross to assist his team-mate.

His talent has not gone un-noticed either, with all of Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton all interested in the 24-year-old, who will be available on a free transfer in the summer as his contract will have expired at PSV Eindhoven.
He returned this interest with this:

"Playing in the Premier League would be best for my prestige. I'd like toplay for Liverpool or Manchester United , the top-level prospect for anyplayer. The transfer deadline is closed, so nothing new will happen now. All I can do is focus on PSV and I will continue to do so. And it looks now as if I will stay at Eindhoven until the end of the season."

Manchester United may be looking to add to their attacking options in the summer - if the rumours regarding Wayne Rooney leaving are true - so where better to start for the debt ridden club than with a free and talented youngster?

New ownership of Liverpool will mean that Hodgson - or whoever is in charge by the summer, will have lots of money at their disposal. A talented and creative player would be very attractive to Liverpool, who so far this season have lacked those very qualities - hence the reason they are 19th in the Premeir League with not many good signs in performance on the pitch.

Wherever this Dutchman goes, one thing is for sure - he will add something different to the team. As you can see from the video above, he has the finishing touch, but can also set up team-mates with fantastic crosses. Who doesn't need a player like that?