Blow As Afellay Rules Out Move

Football Talk will be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news throughout the summer. Today, Arsenal and Liverpool have received a blow with the news that Ibrahim Afellay has ruled out a summer switch.

Arsenal and Liverpool target Ibrahim Afellay has ruled out a move away from Barcelona this summer.

The Metro claims that Barca had put the Dutch international up for sale for a bargain £6m this summer, after coaches became frustrated at the players patchy injury record since joining the club.

Arsenal and Liverpool were among several clubs thought to be interested in signing the 26-year-old this summer, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a long-term admirer while Liverpool scouts have been tracking the player in recent weeks.

Afellay impressed during warm-up matches before this summer’s European championships and went on to make three appearances at the tournament itself, but was unable to prevent the Dutch from making a shock exit.

He is currently on holiday but is due back in Catalonia for talks with new Barca coach Tito Vilanova within the next two weeks, where he’s expected to tell his boss he has no desire to leave the Nou Camp.

Afellay only managed to make five appearances last season due to a serious knee injury that saw him on the sidelines for seven months, but is keen to kick start his Barcelona career. Quoted by the Metro, Afellay said:

‘I can’t wait for the new season to begin, so I can get back on the pitch, and prove my worth for Barcelona,’

Afellay joined Barca in 2011 from PSV and has a contract that runs until 2015.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

Would you like to see Afellay at your club? Get involved in the comments section.