Arsenal, Manchester United locking horns while starlet’s club “will not stand in his way”

By 1970's Gooner

It is reported that Wenger and Ferguson are about to go head to head again over the signature of another wonder kid.

This time they have to go as far as sunny Cyprus where Demetris Christofi plays his football.

Apparently both Arsenal and Manchester United have been tracking the youngster over recent months by sending scouts to watch him from close quarters.

He was, until two weeks ago, playing for his local club ENP which is very near the popular (amongst UK sun seekers) summer resort of Protaras.

He was however transferred to one of the big clubs on the island, Omonoia Nicosia, for a record fee of 1m euros (about £750,000) and has already joined up with his new team mates for pre season training.

Well, if reports linking him to Arsenal and Manchester United are true it looks like he will be on the move again.

Reports coming out of Cyprus suggest that no official contact has been made by the English teams and this has been verified by both the player himself and his club.

However Omonoia Nicosia’s President said today that the money could come in handy and that they will not stand in his way.

“We will not stand in his way. We will use the money to strengthen the team for the start of the new season. However nothing official has been received”.

Christofi who is 19 has been putting some excellent performances for his club this season. As a result he was called up for his first cap coming on as substitute in a recent friendly against Greece.

He is a left footed wide midfield player who is blessed with speed, strength and also good football technique.

It is also a fact that the big Greek football clubs have also been looking at him with a view to making a move.

It looks however that the £3m that Arsenal and Manchester United are reported to be prepared to pay is way out of their league for such a young player.

Arsenal have had another Cypriot youngster on their books, Georgios Efrem, who after a few years at London Colney was released two season’s ago. He is now in Scotland on Rangers books.