Liverpool and Real Madrid both have stepped up their pursuit of PSV Eindhoven wonder kid Zakaria Bakkali, with the Dutch club concerned about keeping hold of the 18-year-old.
Bakkali, who won his first senior cap for Belgium last year, has just a further year to run on his PSV contract after this coming summer and it is far from certain that the winger-cum-forward will agree to extend that arrangement.
That is not lost on Bakkali’s suitors, a group which includes Liverpool and Real Madrid, according to Dutch dailyAi??De Telegraaf, the pair being very serious in their interest in the former Standard Liege youth player.
Bakkali has gradually throughout the Belgian youth-system risen and become a reliable goal-scorer. Scoring 7 goals on 9 games for theAi??Belgian U17Ai??national side, he became promoted to theAi??U21s; gaining trust from the coachAi??Johan Walem.
After Bakkali’s superbAi??Champions League-debut,Ai??BelgiumAi??coachAi??Marc WilmotsAi??selected him in the 25-man squad in the friendly-game againstAi??France.Ai??Due to a training injury sustained the day before the game, he pulled out of the squad. With his dual nationality and without full international appearances, he still had the choice to play for the Moroccan national football team, but on 7 October 2013 (shortly before Belgium’s last twoAi??2014 World CupAi??qualifiers) he formally opted forAi??the Belgian squad.
The youthful winger burst onto the scene at the start of this season with three goals in the August victory overAi??NECAi??Nijmegen, becoming the youngest player inAi??EredivisieAi??history to achieve the feat, aged just 17 years and 196 days.
Since then the 18-year-old has gone on to win many fans, including Belgium national team coach MarcAi??Wilmots.Ai??BakkaliAi??made his senior debut as a 78th minute substitute in Octoberai??i??s 1-1 draw with Wales, committing his international future toAi??RodeAi??DuivelsAi??in the process. BakkaliAi??could yet force his way into Belgiumai??i??s World Cup squad, albeit as a reserve. Even if heAi??doesnai??i??t, the future looks bright for the Liege-born winger.
Meanwhile, his former employers, Standard Liege are eyeing a reunion with Bakkali too, while fellow Belgian side Anderlecht are keeping tabs on the 18-year-old’s situation.
PSV had been expecting Bakkali to sign a senior contract when he turned 18 in late January, but so far that has not happened. There are signs doubts over his future may also be affecting Bakkali’s football, with the youngster clocking up just 21 minutes on the pitch since the Dutch winter break.
Already, theAi??PSVAi??man has drawn comparisons to compatriotAi??Eden HazardAi??and the youngster is highly regarded throughout Europe, with some of the continentai??i??s biggest clubs reportedly monitoring the youngsterai??i??s progression with plans of a summer bid.
Bakkali remains the youngster player to score a hat-trick in the Eredivisie, having struck at the age of 17 years and 196 days.
No official bids have been made yet and the Belgianai??i??s contract atAi??PSVruns until 2015. Nonetheless, coach PhillipAi??CocuAi??may already be resigned to losing one of his most promising youngsters.
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