Thursday, 24th July, 2014
Atletico Madrid are close to sealing a deal with PSV Eindhoven for the signature of Zakaria Bakkali.
The 18-year-old winger is a product of PSV’s youth academy and made his debut for the first team in July last year against Zulte Waregem in a Champions League qualifier.
The Belgian has only one year left on his contract with the club and has so far refused to sign a new deal, leading to PSV seeking to sell him.
Bakkali's exploits at the Dutch club have attracted interest from clubs across Europe and Liverpool are believed to have made initial contact with PSV for his transfer. An unnamed club had a bid for the player accepted recently, thought to be Eintracht Frankfurt, but Bakkali would not head to Germany.
However, Atletico Madrid have raced ahead of the English club and are in pole position to sign Bakkali this summer, according to Spanish daily AS.
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Los Colchoneros manager Diego Simeone is keen to add fresh talent to his title-winning team and Bakkali fits the bill.
Bakkali made his first team debut for PSV last season and scored four goals in 24 appearances for the club.
Despite losing Filipe Luis, Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois and David Villa this summer, Atletico Madrid have strengthened their squad by adding the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Jan Oblak, Guilherme Siqueira, Miguel Angel Moya and Angel Correa.
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