Arsenal Transfer News: Riechedly Bazoer Interest Intensified, Latest Rumours

Arsenal are expected to step up their desire to capture Ajax wonderkid Riechedly Bazoer after initial interest in 2015. 

John Cross of the Mirror said manager Arsene Wenger has sent chief scout Steve Rowley to the Netherlands to run the rule on the outstanding teenage midfielder. The Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel initially reported in October 2015 the north London side want the prodigy. 

Cross added Barcelona, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also "in the hunt" for the 19-year-old, who is already a full Dutch international. 

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Wenger is likely to face stiff opposition for the player if Barca enter the race to sign him, as Bazoer admitted he would like a switch to the Camp Nou. The teenager previously admitted to Dutch outlet Helden he plans on moving to Catalonia "within the next three years," apparently holding little interest of carving out a long-term future in Amsterdam (h/t Goal's Peter McVitie):

"

I hope I can leave in two or three years to my join dream club Barcelona. That tiki-taka style of football suits me. At the moment, I am not scoring enough goals, but I'm working on that. I must become even more important for the team.

My ultimate dream is to pull my car up at Barcelona in five years and win trophies. Hopefully everyone knows me by then.

"

Bazoer has impressed in the Eredivisie this season, scoring five and assisting four times in the Dutch league during 27 appearances for Ajax, according to WhoScored.com.

Here is a video of the midfielder's tremendous exploits this season:

Dutch football journalist Elko Born noted the player has very limited knowledge of English football and clearly favours the Spanish and continental game:

Wenger is planning on refreshing his squad with youth after another disappointing campaign almost under Arsenal's belt. Cross said the Gunners could say goodbye to ageing trio Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a "target" for Southampton, West Ham United and Manchester City.

Wenger will look at the top of the table at the end of the season and wonder how his side allowed Leicester City and Spurs the currency they needed to steal a march in the title race. 

Bazoer is one of Europe's outstanding prospects and would compliment Arsenal's host of flair midfielders.

However, the failure of Wenger's plans this season will leave fans short on confidence in the manager's strategy in future after a campaign that should have seen the league title return to Arsenal after the failures of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

The Gunners still hold a slip chance of beating the Foxes to the championship, but they should have dominated proceedings in 2015-16.