Report: Arsenal looking to beat Chelsea, Tottenham for Dutch midfielder
Arsenal are reportedly looking to sign Ajax wonderkid Riechedly Bazoer in the summer to strengthen their midfield.
According to the Mirror, the Gunners have stepped up their interest in signing the teenager and are looking to snap his services. Arsene Wenger sent his chief scout Steve Rowley to watch the player in action against SC Cambuur.
After coming up through the ranks at PSV Eindhoven, Bazoer moved to Ajax in 2012 on a free transfer. A year in their youth setup, he was promoted to the first team and was included in the squad for the 2013-14 season.
The 19-year-old has been a regular inclusion in his side since then and has made 27 appearances in the league, scoring five goals and registering four assists this term. Wenger is looking to bolster his midfield in the summer as he looks to mount another title challenge.
Arsenal are third in the league table with 59 points from 32 matches, trailing league leaders for Leicester City by 13 points. The frustrating part for them is that their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur sit second with 65 points who have played a game more than their north London neighbours.
Mathieu Flamini, Tomáš Rosický and Mikel Arteta's contract at the Emirates will expire at the end of the ongoing campaign. The Frenchman is looking to bring in reinforcements to strengthen the centre of the park.
Wenger is looking to bring Bazoer to the Emirates and play him as a box-to-box midfielder, which is what his current role at Ajax is. The Dutch outfit's coach Frank de Boer handed Bazoer his first team debut and the Dutchman has backed him to be a force in the Netherlands.
"Riechedly is just a great talent. He is so talented and stable, I see him as a major force in the future of Ajax and Dutch football," De Boer said about the midfielder.
Bazoer is contracted with the Eredivisie club until 2020 and his club form has seen him make it to the Netherlands squad. He is now a regular inclusion in Danny Blind's side for international fixtures.
The teenager, who is piped to be one of the brightest prospects in Europe has expressed his desire to be part of something special with his current employers.
"I think we can build something special together at Ajax and I want to be part of that. I want to remain a first-team player and develop further into an even better footballer," Bazoer said.
It should be seen whether Arsenal can convince Bazoer to leave Ajax in the summer. Apart from the Gunners, even Barcelona, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race for his midfielder's signature.