The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented players in the Eredivisie having come through PSV's youth system.

His former boss Ronaldo Koeman, now at Valencia, is thought to be keen and reports suggest he could make a bid as early as January to take him to Spain.

However, Arsenal now look to be in the running after Arsene Wenger dispatched a delegation to take a close looking at Afellay over the weekend as PSV won 1-0 at De Graafschap.

Afellay is currently in talks with PSV - who are keen to extend his current contract by another three years, taking him to 2013.

"My intention is to sign with PSV," he told Algemeen Dagblad.

"But if that fails I will just serve out my contract until 2010."