Arsenal step up interest in Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer amid Tottenham attention

Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer as Arsene Wenger looks to add more impetus to the Gunners youth setup after yet another failed attempt to end their 12 year title drought. This season was the Gunners' best chance to win the title, especially with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United struggling to live up to expectations, but a run of poor results since the turn of 2016 marked another year when the north London club failed to challenge for the top honours.

The Mirror reports that Barcelona, Chelsea and Tottenham are also interested in his services but chief scout Steve Rowley has run the rule over the 19-year-old and is desperate to bring him to north London and make another addition to a impressive line of young talent at the club such as Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Steve Crowley and Alex Iwobi. Wenger has realised that they cannot compete in the market with the big hitters for the big names and they need their youth academy to churn out players who can take the club forward.

The Gunners are already keeping a keen eye on Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka and are also planning to bring in a striker and a defender in the upcoming summer transfer window. The French manager is also considering letting go of a few established names in the Arsenal line-up, including the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who have failed to live up to their potential..

Bazoer has been heralded as among the best young talents in Europe and has already received a call-up to the Holland national squad and played in their 2-1 win over England in an international friendly in March at the Wembley Stadium. The French manager is known for his ability to groom youngsters and his relationship with Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp makes Arsenal an attractive place for young Dutch talent.

The north London club are currently trying their best to stay in the top four, having given up any hope of a title tilt following their 3-3 draw with West Ham United. The Gunners had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half but a hat-trick by Andy Carroll poured cold water over their hopes to keep up with leaders Leicester City.