JUST IN: Arsenal send their scouts to watch £10m ‘Messi clone’ who could move in January, Man City also keen
Arsenal are now among the host of clubs keen on Greek wonderkid Giannis Konstantelias.
19-year-old Konstantelias plays for PAOK, but spent six months last season on loan with Belgian outfit Eupen.
The Evening Standard report that the Gunners are going to send scouts to watch the teenager, who can play in midfield or attack.
A number of teams are interested in Konstantelias, perhaps most notably Manchester City, given they are Arsenal’s main title rivals.
Arsenal like Konstantelias
The report says that PAOK value the starlet around £10 million but if they agree any deal this month, they will want him loaned straight back for the end of the season.
So this is not a deal which will help Arsenal – or City for that matter – over the line in the short term in the chase to win the Premier League.
Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Wolves, PSV and Valencia are also named in the report as clubs interested, and comments from local journalist Stavros Kolkas in Goal from 2021 make it clear why.
He said: “PAOK has a Messi clone in its academy. Against Larissa, he came on at half-time while it was 0-0. He scored two goals, gave two assists and PAOK won 5-0.
“Such a player does not emerge every day. Not even every 50 years,” added the man who scouted him, Alexandros Malakasiotis. “He has some gifts, which are unique.
“We had the pleasure of seeing Konstantelias grow up here. He stood out like a fly in milk. For me, he is a phenomenon.
“If you see how he passes and moves into space, you will understand what he is about. When he goes one-on-one, it is like watching Neymar.”
