Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Afellay has suffered a serious knee injury - potentially disrupting the transfer plans of both Spurs and Arsenal.
The Dutchman, who was a target for Tottenham over the summer, is to undergo surgery after tearing a cruciate ligament in his left knee during training on Thursday.
Afellay is expected to be out of action for at least six months, but could miss the whole of the rest of the season.
Either way, the injury will prevent Spurs renewing their attempts to sign the 25-year-old when the January transfer window opens.
The Tottenham board had asked about the former PSV Eindhoven winger's availability, as it was thought he would be surplus to requirements once Barca had completed deals for Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez.
He has played just twice this season, but with Andres Iniesta and Sanchez both also out injured, Barca is now short of cover in midfield.
That will mean a bigger role for 20-year-old Thiago Alcantara, who Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had wanted to sign.
Wenger tried to take the youngster as part of the deal that saw Fabregas return to Barcelona and still has ambitions to tempt the rising star to the Emirates Stadium.
No comments:
Post a Comment