Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Chelsea also tracking Zakaria Bakkali.
Young PSV Eindhoven winger Zakaria Bakkali may well be the most wanted football in Europe right now, with the Express reporting that no less than eight major continental names, including four from the Premier League, are interested in the signing of a player who has been dubbed as ‘the new Eden Hazard’ for his stunning performances in the Eredivisie.
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Bakkali, who is just 18 years old, has been an important part of the PSV side that look set to challenge for the Eredivisie title this season, but the report suggests that the Dutch club are now resigned to losing the player in the near future, potentially in January but more likely at the end of the season.
Barcelona have now entered the race for Bakkali, joining Premier League quartet Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, in holding an interest in the Belgian, who has already received a call-up to Marc Wilmots’ senior side.
Born in Liese, PSV found the player in the youth system and brought him to Eindhoven, where he has been a start throughout the youth academy before making his senior debut last season and immediately catching the eye with his pace, trickery and creativity.
This has recalled another fine Belgian player, Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, with Bakkali being dubbed ‘the new Hazard’ due to similarities in their game – although, with Bakkali’s performance at such a young age being so impressive, he could well become even better than the former Lille man.