Arsenal target Krystian Bielik: Hamburg hopeful will reject Gunners in favour of Bundesliga

Hamburg are hoping to secure a deal for Polish teenager Krystian Bielik despite Arsenal having already lodged a bid for the player.

Bielik, 17, has made no secret of his wish to join the Gunners during the January transfer window but the club are yet to meet Legia Warsaw's £2.6m valuation of the player.

But Hamburg are hopeful of luring the talented midfielder to the Bundesliga and although the club admit they face stiff competition in securing his signature, head coach Josef Zinnbauer is confident player will seriously consider their offer.

"Of course Arsenal are also interested but I don't think he is bluffing [about being interested in joining Hamburg]," Zinnbauer told Kicker. "Otherwise he didn't need to come to Hamburg.

"He is a really good boy who has very good build-up play. He would fit in perfectly with our philosophy."

But the club's sporting director, Peter Knabel, acknowledged the difficulty in the task of signing Bielik, adding: "There is some good competition out there for him."

Bielik, who has already made seven appearances for the club this season, despite turning 17 at the start of the year, spent time at Arsenal's London Colney training ground in November and is desperate to make a permanent move to north London.

In a recent interview with Legia Sport, the Polish teenager revealed Wenger plans to place him in the under-21 side with the view of moving straight into the first time should he impress.

Bielik said: "He said clearly that I could move to the Under-21s if I want to but, at the same time, he pointed out that he believes in me. I'll be training with the first team and get a chance to play, if I adapt myself.

"I believe him, because I know that is not afraid to try with the young."