Arsenal and Manchester City face transfer battle over son of Dutch football legend | OneFootball

The Premier League’s two leading challengers for the top-flight crown could be on the verge of a transfer head-to-head over an emerging talent from the Netherlands.

It is the latest in a growing list of transfer rumours concerning Manchester City this month, amid an ongoing situation surrounding Pep Guardiola and his plans to replace Rodri in his go-to starting line-up.

Whilst the common expectation is that the Catalan coach will turn to existing options in order to support the defensive midfield ranks whilst Rodri recovers from ligament damage in his right knee, there remains the possibility of entering the January market for a new player.

That has seen the Etihad Stadium club linked with a number of midfield solutions including Crystal Palace and England international Adam Wharton, as well as Inter Milan and Italian superstar Nicolo Barella.

However, the latest transfer rumour has taken on a different direction, with Manchester City stood alongside two Premier League rivals in potentially competing for the signature of an emerging talent in the Dutch game.

According to the information of TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey, both Manchester City and Arsenal are among the clubs following AZ Alkmaar starlet, Ruben van Bommel – the son of Dutch football legend, Mark.

Unlike his father, the report details that the 20-year-old is a left-winger with a tendency to cut inside onto his right foot, and as a result of a bright start in Holland this season, is attracting interest from a host of English clubs.

Newcastle United are also among the clubs linked with a monitoring interest in the young forward monitoring the player’s progress, whilst it is pointed out that Premier League sides have had Van Bommel on their radar for ‘a couple of years’.

Elsewhere and Manchester City reportedly hold an interest in Netherlands international star Xavi Simons, as the club pulls together contingency plans for the potential departure of Kevin De Bruyne after a legendary spell with the club from 2015.

The 33-year-old is into the final year of his City contract, and whilst there remains a strong possibility of the two parties extending their relationship further, the Belgium international is attracting big-money interest from both the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer.

Among the other names to be linked with the Etihad Stadium as potential successors to Kevin De Bruyne’s long-standing place in the creative role at the club are Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.