Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona, on-loan at Schalke)
The Dutch midfielder is undoubtedly talented but has been unable to achieve his full potential so far in his career. Afellay joined Barcelona from Dutch giants PSV in January 2011 and won the Champions League with the club within his first six months at the Nou Camp. But the player’s spell in Catalonia has since been blighted by injury and that has seen him slip down the pecking order at Barcelona.
Afellay has been told he is free to move away from the club this summer and there are likely to be no shortage of suitors for the player. Afellay put in some impressive performances on loan at Bundesliga side Schalke this year before once again succumbing to injury. Afellay represents a risk fitness-wise but Barcelona would be likely to accept £5 million and the player could offer some guile and creativity on the Arsenal flanks.
While the club currently have pacy options on the wings in the form of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, the likes of Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin have failed to live up to their potential as tricky wide players. Afellay has the ability to produce something from out of nowhere and could prove to be a significant asset in unlocking tight defences when Arsenal’s passing game is failing to prove fruitful.
Italian giants Inter Milan and Lazio are also thought to be interested in the player’s signature.