Arsenal To Break Transfer Record For Huntelaar - Man United & Chelsea Linked

Premier League club Arsenal have joined the race for Dutch International Klaas Jan Huntelaar from Ajax.

24-year-old Huntelaar is already being tracked by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who sees the prolific striker as an alternative to long-term target, Tottenham Hotspur forward Dimitar Berbatov, while new Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is also monitoring the situation.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is resigned to losing Emmanuel Adebayor to La Liga club Barcelona, and is a keen admirer of Huntelaar, who has scored 70 goals in 82 games for Ajax. It is now believed that the Dutchman, who had limited opportunities at EURO 2008, is a main target for Wenger, according to The News of the World.

Ajax value their star player at £27.8million (€35m), having already turned down an offer of £14.3million (€18m), from Serie A side AS Roma, with it now believed that Arsenal are preparing a club record £19.1million (€24m), to bring Huntelaar to the Emirates Stadium.

However, Huntelaar has already expressed a desire to follow in Ruud Van Nistelrooy footsteps and play for Manchester United at Old Trafford, with the player expected to leave the Amsterdam Arena after failing to negotiate a new deal with Ajax.

Huntelaar told the Dutch media: "I love clubs with great history like Ajax. I also love United. It's a club that makes me dream, especially as Ruud van Nistelrooy played there and did great things with them.

“I know certain English clubs are following me, like Manchester United, who are very interested in me".