TheSportsCampus

Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate's performances have boosted interest from the Premier League for the 22-year old, with Arsenal and Manchester City both chasing the Senegalese player according to reports in the Sun this morning.

A versatile player who can play both at centre-half and in defensive midfield, Kouyate had a stellar season for his club Anderlecht, helping the team romp to another Belgian Pro League title.

However, while his performances for his club had a couple of big clubs sit up and take notice, Kouyate's performances for the Senegal Under-23 Olympic team have really intensified interest in the player, with Arsene Wenger and Roberto Mancini reportedly battling it out for the starlet's signature.

The Citizens, who periodically had scouts watch Kouyate in Belgium last season, are said to be the early favourites for the player's signature, but could have their offer rejected by Kouyate, who was quoted as saying earlier in the year: "I'm not ready yet to join a club like Manchester City. I'll probably be ready within a year or two.

"There's a big gap between me and the players at City at the moment, like Lescott and Kompany."

Kouyate is reportedly vary of the possibility of joining a big club and then having to warm the bench for many years, which is the scenario with his former teammate Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea.

The player's agent, Tedik Bekir, on the other hand, has confirmed that there have been widespread interest for his client.

I have received many phone calls since the Olympics. Almost all from the Premier League, but also from Russian and Turkish teams", said Bekir. "For now, nothing is really concrete. But that could change later on in the transfer window."