Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been dealt a blow after transfer target Adam Maher revealed he would prefer to stay in Holland rather than join the Gunners.

The AZ Alkmaar midfielder is expected to leave the Eredivise outfit during the summer and AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek who valued the 19-year-old at £8.5m last month expected Maher to join Arsenal, according to talkSPORT.

However that doesn't seem to be the case with the young prodigy wanting to stay in Holland with both PSV Eindhoven and Ajax seemingly interested in Maher, who has said he is not interested in a move to England.

Speaking to NUSport he said: "I have already said that I do not want to go. I want a good stay in the Netherlands, at least another two or three years- I am only 19.

"PSV is a nice club, but on the other hand I live in Amsterdam. last summer and last winter I indicated I want to go to PSV, but PSV was the only club that wanted to sign me. But I can also play for Ajax (too).

"In the summer i expected there will be a realistic bid. It is certain that I will be leaving."

Maher has been capped twice by the Netherlands and scored 18 goals in 77 appearences for AZ Alkmaar, since breaking onto the scene as a 17-year-old.

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