Arsenal and Liverpool look to Europe as they woo Bakkali

 
       

  
  
   
       Credits:&nbsp;   Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images     Alt Text:&nbsp;   Zakaria Bakkali      

  
 
      
    Race to sign the Belgian teenager is underway as PSV Eindhoven lose patience with winger     
 
        Transfer Talk  
       Bill Mann     
    Tuesday, May 27, 2014 - 8:44am  
       Ukip might not like it, but both Arsenal and Liverpool believe their future lies in Europe and are heading to the continent in a bid to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season. According to the  Daily Express  both clubs are after PSV Eindhoven's Belgian wonderkid  Zakaria Bakkali .  
  The 18-year-old forward is being chased by the Premier League powerhouses even though the paper reports that he has a reputation for tetchiness. Bakkali is allegedly "refusing to sign a contract extension" with Eindhoven and consequently they have grown "increasingly frustrated" with the youngster's antics. He was substituted after just 16 minutes in a friendly this month after neglecting his defensive duties and with a year to run on his existing contract Bakkali could be sold off in the summer to prevent him leaving on a free transfer in 12 months' time. The Express claims Arsenal are front-runners to sign the young winger with Arsene Wenger believing he has the savoir-faire to tame the teenager.  
  Meanwhile,  Metro  reports that the Gunners are "ready to make a £3m bid" for Swansea City captain  Ashley Williams . The club that likes to finish fourth was first linked to the 29 year-old defender last summer but the Swans knocked back their approaches. Now, however, Metro says Williams wants to leave and is demanding to be released this summer. Napoli and Lille are also monitoring the situation but Wenger seems determined to land the Welsh international.  
  Still with Swansea and  Talksport  claims that  Wilfried Bony  is being courted by Roma but the Welsh club have told the Italian outfit they won't sell the 25-year-old frontman "on the cheap". Taking its cue from Italian sports website Calciomercato.it, Talksport says Swansea are demanding £25m for the Ivory Coast international. The Swans believe that if they do have to sell Bony they can at least spark a bidding war with Arsenal and Liverpool also said to be interested.  
  However, the fact that Arsenal and Liverpool are sniffing around may not mean much. The two clubs seem to be interested in any player who knows how to kick a ball, and even those who don't, if the rumours in the  Daily Mail  linking the Gunners to Gareth Barry are to be believed.   
  In other news the  Daily Star  is adamant that Chelsea are closing in on  Diego Costa , dodgy hamstring and all. The Atletico Madrid striker limped out of Saturday's Champions League drubbing to Real Madrid after only nine minutes but that doesn't seem to have deterred Jose Mourinho. The Chelsea boss has a "two-week window" to conclude a deal for Costa before the World Cup takes precedence over all transfer negotiations. With the striker ordered to take a fortnight's rest, the Star says Chelsea will lure him to London to "put the finishing touches on a move to Stamford Bridge".   
 Finally,  The Sun  says that QPR gaffer Harry Redknapp is "poised to make a stunning swoop" for  Frank Lampard . The Chelsea and England midfielder is Harry's nephew and he wants to keep it in the family by enticing the 35-year-old veteran to Loftus Road now that he's out of contract at the Bridge. According to the Sun, the two-year deal could earn Lampard £10m. And the paper also claims that Uncle Harry is on the trail of former Manchester United defender  Rio Ferdinand  as he looks to entice him back to London. &nbsp;&middot;&nbsp;  
       Zakaria Bakkali    Arsenal    Liverpool FC    Ashley Williams