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.

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.

Stoke v Hull Premiership Preview: Lawrence Back In Contention For Potters In The Clash Of The Premier League Debutantes

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Stoke City play, Phil Brown’s Hull City in the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The Potters will go into this clash of the Premiership debutantes full of confidence, with Stoke’s only defeat in November a 5-0 drubbing at Old Trafford at the hands of Premier League Champions Manchester United. Stoke have beaten Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Britannia this month and have been impressive at home this season, with 5 wins from 7 matches. Although the Potters are just 3 points outside the relegation zone their recent form suggests that manager Tony Pulis has a side capable of surviving in the top-flight.

Hull are still in 6th in their debut Premier League campaign, but the Tigers have stuttered a little during November. Brown will be pleased that Hull managed to stop a mini-slump of three straight defeats by drawing their last two matches against Manchester City at the KC Stadium and then away at Fratton Park to Portsmouth last weekend, where the Tigers fought back from a two-goal deficit.

Pulis will be without defender Ryan Shawcross (back) and summer signing striker Dave Kitson (knee) for the visit of Hull to the Britannia, but could welcome back Liam Lawrence, who has been out with a sprained ankle after tripping over his dog.

The Tigers are still unable to call on summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur Anthony Gardner (thigh) and Craig Fagan (broken leg), who are both two weeks away from full fitness, but Brown could have Andy Dawson available for the trip to the Britannia if he can shake off an achilles problem in time.

Stoke City: (from) Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Olofinjana, Cort, Whelan, Lawrence, Soares, Cresswell, Fuller, Sidibe, Pugh, Pericard, Matteo, Diao, Faye, Tonge, Delap, Diagne-Faye, Phillips, Wilkinson, Simonsen, Dickinson, Sonko

Hull City: (from) Myhill, Doyle, Dawson, Ashbee, Brown, Turner, Barmby, Windass, Geovanni, Hughes, Duke, France, Garcia, Mendy, Halmosi, McShane, Folan, Boateng, Ricketts, Marney, King, Zayatte, Cousin, Warner, Featherstone, Atkinson, Stelios, Cooper

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.

Man City Plan £6million Raid For Tiger Turner?

Manchester City are planning a £6million raid on Premier League debutantes Hull City when the transfer window reopens in January, with defender Michael Turner the target for City, according to The Mirror.

While the Tigers have been the surprise package of the Premiership this season. Turner has been putting in solid performances for the Yorkshire club this campaign and has been an ever-present for Hull, who are 6th in the league.

Turner’s form has alerted City boss Mark Hughes, who is expected reinforce a leaky defence at the Eastlands Stadium in January, with a £6million offer to lure Turner away from the KC Stadium being mooted.

25-year-old Turner, who joined Hull from Brentford in 2006 for just £350,000 has been a sensation under Tigers boss Phil Brown and has even been tipped for a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad.

However, Turner signed a new three-year deal at the KC Stadium in April and any move by City to prise Turner away is likely to be resisted fiercely by Brown, despite the huge profit that could be made on the former, Charlton Athletic defender.

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.”

Hull To Make January Swoop For Young Gunner?

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Premier League debutantes Hull City are understood to be considering a January swoop for highly-rated Arsenal youngster Carlos Vela, with a loan deal likely to take the Mexican International to the KC Stadium from the Emirates.

19-year-old Vela has been at the Gunners since 2005, but has been loaned out to Celta Vigo, Salamanca and Osasuna in Spain by Arsenal since his arrival at the North London club due to work permit issues.

Vela, who was finally granted a work permit in May of this year has been in superb form for the young Gunners sides that manager Arsene Wenger has played in the Carling Cup. With the young Mexican starlet scoring 4 goals in the wins against Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic, which has seen Arsenal through to the quarter-finals of the competition.

However, Vela has struggled to break into Wenger’s thoughts for the Premier League and will be thrust even further down the pecking order at the Emirates when Croatian International Eduardo makes his expected return to action with the Gunners soon.

Eduardo’s return from his broken leg will allow Wenger to let Vela leave on loan and gain some valuable Premiership experience, with the Tigers reportedly the front-runners to land the young Mexican in January on a loan deal until the ende of the season.

Hull v Man City Premiership Preview: Geovanni Set To Face Former Club For Tigers – Dunne & Fernandes Suspended For City

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Hull City, play Mark Hughes’ Manchester City at the KC Stadium on Sunday in the Premier League.

Tigers boss Phil Brown will be hoping his Hull side can get back to winning ways after losing their last three Premier League matches to Chelsea, Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers. However, Hull are still 6th in the Premiership and are still the surprise package of the season, with Brown hoping his Tigers can collect all three points against a City side that are poor away from the Eastlands.

Mark Hughes’ team have only won once on their travels this campaign a 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland in August and go into this clash with Premier League debutantes Hull on the back of a home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday. City’s in and out form has seen them slip to 13th in the Premiership, with Hughes hoping his side can start to pick up points on the road to realise a lofty aim of a top-four finish this term.

The Tigers will be without Craig Fagan (broken leg) and Anthony Gardner (thigh) for the visit of City, with Brazilian Geovanni, Marlon King and Daniel Cousin expected to spearhead a three-pronged attack for the Tigers.

Man City are without Martin Petrov (knee), Valeri Bojinov (calf) and Michael Johnson (groin) for the trip to the KC Stadium. While, Richard Dunne and Gelson Fernandes will miss the clash through suspension after being sent off against Spurs.

Hull City: (from) Myhill, Doyle, Dawson, Ahsbee, Turner, Barmby, Windass, Geovanni, Hughes, Duke, France, Garcia, Mendy, Halmosi, McShane, Folan, Boateng, Marney, King, Zayatte, Cousin, Warner, Featherstone, Atkinson, Stelios

Manchester City: (from) Hart, Richards, Ball, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Elano, Vassell, Jo, Garrido, Schmeichel, Mills, Calcedo, Hamann, Evans, Castillo, Ben Haim, Benjani, Sturridge, Etuhu, Logan, Kompany, Glauber

Hull To Beat Everton & Blackburn To Dutch Under-21 International?

Premier League debutantes Hull City are the favourites ahead of Blackburn Rovers and Everton to sign Dutch Under-21 International Eljero Elia of FC Twente after his agent Sjaron Vink revealed there had been interest from the Premiership and singled out the Yorkshire side for their progression in recent years.

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, with Hull manager Phil Brown understood to have been there in person to run the rule over Elia.

However, Vink has conceded that there has been no official contact from any Premier League club including the Tigers.

“I know that there has been some interest in Eljero but we have not heard anything from Hull City,” Vink told setantasports.com.

“It is a dream of every Dutch player to move to England but whether that is now or in the future, I cannot say.

“In Holland we have of course heard about Hull, and the way they have progressed through the leagues very quickly.”

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 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, with the KC Stadium the likely destination.

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.