Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal will have PSV Eindhoven star Ibrahim Afellay watched in their Champions League tie with Liverpool this week.

The Sunday Mirror says Afellay is the 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven midfielder who could have joined Manchester City on transfer deadline day. He is also top of the Arsenal list of players to watch.

In fact, PSV say the Gunners sent scouts to check on Afellay 15 times last season. There's a £12million get-out clause in the youngster's contract, so potential buyers know what he's going to cost.

Piet de Visser, the international scout employed by Roman Abramovich, believes Afellay could be the next European superstar. But De Visser's regard for the PSV player is no guarantee he will end up at Stamford Bridge.

City have already told PSV they are prepared to outbid anyone else. On transfer deadline day, while City were gazumping Chelsea by landing Robinho, they also moved for the Dutchman of Moroccan parentage. But Afellay didn't want to rush into the move.