JOSE BIDS FOR BERG
Samba superstar reveals his home country is crazy with excitement about Gunners 18-year-old Gabriel and he tips him to be the best in the world, just like Ronaldo
TOTTENHAM are closing in on PSV Eindhoven forward Steven Bergwijn.
The Holland star, 22, (above) was left out of PSV’s squad for last night’s 1-1 draw with FC Twente after Spurs lodged a £30million bid.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho and chairman Daniel Levy met with Bergwijn’s advisers last week and the deal should be completed today.
Bergwijn, who is also being monitored by
Leicester, has a clause in his contract that means he can leave for £30m in the summer.
He was on the brink of joining Sevilla last year, but the deal collapsed when the Spanish club failed to trigger the buy-out.
Mourinho likes Bergwijn’s versatility as he can play across the front three and has scored six goals this season.
Spurs also remain interested in taking AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek on loan.
LEEDS want to sign RB Leipzig striker Jean-Kevin Augustin, who is no longer wanted at the German side.
The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Monaco but he was left out of their for Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Strasbourg. Augustin has scored one goal in 13 appearances for the Ligue 1 club this season.
He has started just five times, including twice in the league.
The France Under-21 international has fallen out of favour at Leipzig, who bought him from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
RONALDINHO has tipped Gabriel Martinelli to emulate another Brazilian legend and become the best player in the world.
Former Barcelona forward Ronaldinho says the Arsenal teenager has got all of the attributes to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian superstar Ronaldo. Ronaldo became one of the alltime greats during a glittering career that spanned spells with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, among others.
And Ronaldinho can see similarities between ‘Il Fenomeno’ and 18-year-old Martinelli. Ronaldinho said: “We as Brazilians are very excited about him and his future. It is one thing to have the talent but another at the age of 18 to have the confidence. He reminds me of Ronaldo his first season in Europe he scored 30 goals and people were thinking, ‘Who is this 18-year-old Brazilian kid?’
“He wanted the ball, he would run at players, there was no fear no matter what players or team he was playing against. I see that similar attitude in Martinelli.
“He just wants to be on the ball and score goals. Ronaldo went on to be the best player in the world and that can also be the aim of Martinelli.”
Martinelli has become the first Arsenal teenager to score 10 goals in all competitions since Nicolas Anelka and goes into tonight’s FA Cup tie at Bournemouth having scored twice in his last two games.
Arsenal plucked Martinelli from relative obscurity last summer when they signed him for just £7million from Sao Paulo-based club Ituano.
Real Madrid are a keeping tabs on him and Ronaldinho believes a