Hull, Arsenal, Blackburn & Everton On Alert As Ajax Bid For Elia Is Rejected

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Premier League clubs Arsenal, Hull City, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, will be on alert today after Eredivisie club FC Twente revealed that they have rejected a bid from Dutch rivals Ajax for winger Eljero Elia.

21-year-old Elia has attracted strong interest from the Premiership, but Ajax, are the first club to make a firm offer for the Dutch International. However, with so many clubs interested in the talented Dutchman, Twente chairman Joop Munsterman has revealed the bid by Ajax to lure Elia to the Amsterdam Arena, which he has confirmed was rejected out of hand and even went as far as to call the offer an “insult”.

“Ajax have made an offer for Eljero [Elia], but we're not even considering it,” Munsterman told TC/Tubantia.

“Ajax's offer was an insult for a player of Elia's level.”



The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Manchester City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is understood to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in England one day.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 7 goals in 45 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should a decent offer and the Premier League beckon in January.

Newcastle To Swoop For French Teenager Sakho?

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is planning to swoop for Paris St Germain’s teenage defender Mamadou Sakho, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The People.

The Magpies have already been linked with 18-year-old Sakho last April, with previous Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan keen on bringing the versatile defender to St James’ Park. With new boss Kinnear now reportedly ready to reignite the Premier League clubs interest in Sakho, who has already captained PSG making him the youngest captain in Ligue 1 history aged 17.

Newcastle are understood to have sent scouts to watch Sakho in action against Dutch side FC Twente in the UEFA Cup last week, with scouts from other Premiership clubs also at the game to watch the defender that can play as right-back or as a central defender.

Sakho has come through the youth system at PSG, joining the club as an 11-year-old and making his senior debut in 2007, with the defender, who is valued at around £6million already making 20 appearances for PSG during his fledgling career at the Parc des Princes.

Newcastle have already got French defender Sebastien Bassong at St James’ Park, who was a summer signing from FC Metz and should they follow up their initial interest in Sakho, will hope that the teenager can settle into the rigours of the Premier league as quickly as Bassong has at the Toon.

Arsenal Planning January Swoop For Dutch Pair?

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Arsenal are tracking two players at former England manager Steve McClaren’s Eredivisie side FC Twente, with winger Eljero Elia along with defender Douglas (below) both reportedly on the radar of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

21-year-old Elia is also a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Everton, with the Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn believed to have watched Elia in action for Twente against Manchester City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Wenger is believed to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley is also understood to have watched Elia play for Twente against SC Heerenveen in the Eredivisie recently, with the young Dutchman putting in an electric performance.

Wenger is also believed to be interested in Twente’s Brazilian defender Douglas, with the Frenchman seeing the 20-year-old as a good prospect for the future at the Emirates Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership one day. While, Douglas has been at the Dutch side since his transfer from Joinville EC also in 2007.

Arsenal To Swoop For Hull, Blackburn & Everton Target?

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Arsenal are being linked with a swoop for Hull City, Blackburn Rovers and Everton target Eljero Elia at Eredivisie side FC Twente, who are managed by former England boss Steve McClaren.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is believed to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

It seems that the North London club are preparing to make a move for 21-year-old Elia in January, with De Telegraaf claiming that Gunners chief scout Steve Rowley was in Holland at the weekend to see Elia turn in an electric performance in the 6-0 rout of SC Heerenveen. (see video)

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership one day.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.

Hull, Man City, Blackburn & Everton Target Elia To Give "100%"

Young Dutch star Eljero Elia has claimed that he will continue to give “100%” for Eredivisie side FC Twente, despite reports linking the striker with a move to the Premier League in January, with Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Hull City all said to be interested in bringing Elia to England.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.

However, Elia insists that he will continue to concentrate on playing football for McLaren’s side, but concedes that he has “ambitions” like any other player.

“I allow my agent to handle all these things and I concentrate on football,” he told Sportweek.

“I will give 100% for FC Twente for as long as I play for them.

“Of course I have ambitions, like every other player, but while there is nothing concrete I cannot say anything about it.”

City Boss Hughes Tells Elano To Stop Feeling Blue

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has revealed that Brazilian International Elano’s comments about being unhappy at being left on the bench recently have been dealt with internally, with the former Blackburn Rovers boss reminding the playmaker that he has actually had a lot of playing time at the Eastlands Stadium this season.

27-year-old Elano had voiced his discontent to the media about being left on the bench for the UEFA Cup clash with Eredivisie side FC Twente and then again for the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Eastlands on Sunday.

Elano felt the need to make his opinion heard through the press, despite starting 8 out of City’s 12 Premiership games this campaign. Which has not endeared the former Shakhtar Donetsk player to Hughes, who insists Elano went about it in the wrong way.

“I had to remind Elano he actually has played quite often this year,” said Hughes.

“It was an internal matter and has been dealt with, so we draw a line over it and we move on.

“The mistake Elano made is that he went the wrong way about it. I always say my door is open, you can knock on my door and we'll discuss it. He just took and chose the wrong option.”

Hull, Everton, Blackburn & Man City In January Race For Elia?

Premier League debutantes Hull City along with Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Manchester City are set for a January race for the signature of Dutch Under-21 International Eljero Elia at Eredivisie side FC Twente, according to skysports.com.

The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched 21-year-old Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Man City in the UEFA Cup last Thursday at the Eastlands Stadium.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in the Premiership.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 6 goals in 43 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should the Premier League beckon in January.