Barca fight for Assulin

Premier League interest in Israeli

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 27th March 2008

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Israeli starlet Gai Assulin is ready to shun English interest to remain at Barcelona.

The 16-year-old midfielder made history on Wednesday evening when he became his country's youngest ever international when he came on for Yossi Benayoun during their 1-0 win over Chile.

Assulin is one of the leading lights at La Masia - Barca's youth academy - and is currently featuring for their B side.

Barcelona are determined to hand him an extended contract and a three-year deal is waiting for him but once again the Catalunyan giants are being forced to fend off interest from the Premier League in one of their prized youngsters.

Interest

Chelsea and Manchester City are both understood to have made enquiries with his agent Pini Zahavi in recent weeks, and he admits they are amongst the interested clubs - but he also insists Assulin is more than happy at Barca.

"Those teams are interesting and we will never say no," Zahavi is quoted in the Daily Star.

"But Gai feels good in Barcelona."

Previously both Arsenal and Tottenham were said to have made offers for the young talent.