Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea target ‘Russia’s Wilshere’ – talkSPORT Euro 2012 Transfer Spotlight

talkSPORT shine our Euro 2012 Transfer Spotlight on the young Russian attacking midfielder with a speciality for set-pieces who has been watched by Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United. Unsurprisingly, considering he is considered Russia's answer to young talent like Neymar, Mario Gotze and Jack Wilshere and top scored for the Russians in Euro 2012 qualifying.

Name: Alan Dzagoev?
Date of birth: 17/06/1990
Birthplace: Beslan, Russia?
Position: Attacking midfielder?
Club: CSKA Moscow
International: 18 caps, 4 goals (to date)
Honours: CSKA Moscow - 3 Russian Cups 07/08, 08/09, 10/11. Russian Super Cup 2009
Who's interested?
Manchester United have been keeping tabs on CSKA Moscow star Alan Dzagoev for some time and Sir Alex Ferguson considered a move for him in January 2012, while Arsenal and Chelsea have also been linked with the player before. He would appear to fit the Arsenal mould perfectly, while Chelsea's owner will always be interested in Russian talent. Figures in the region of £10m-plus have previously been suggested, but Dzagoev's current contract with CSKA reportedly expires at the end of 2012, so he could be in line for a cut-price summer transfer, if not become a bargain free in January 2013. Dzagoev is said to favour a move to Spain, but with the Spanish economy not exactly robust at the moment, he may prefer to swap the Russian Premier League for England, instead.

Did you know?

1) Dzagoev grew up in the small Russian region of North Ossetia and was encouraged to take up the game by his football-mad mum, Lyana, who moved the family to the city of Vladikavkaz where 10-year-old Alan could play a higher standard of youth football. At 15 he was spotted by a coach from an academy (that is now sponsored by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich) and moved 22 hours drive from Vladikavkaz to continue his football education.
2) Dzagoez made his professional debut aged just 15 for second division team FC Akademiya Tolyatti, which uses players fed through from the academy. After 37 appearances for Tolyatti, he then signed for CSKA Moscow in 2008 and won the Russian Premier League's Young Player of the Year award at the end of his first season.
3) He went on to become the youngest outfield player to earn a cap for Russia, thanks to the country's then manager Guus Hiddink providing his international debut against Germany in 2008. Despite the obvious honour, after losing 1-0 Dzagoev said, ""It would have been a good day only if my shot had gone in and we had drawn."
4) Roman Abramovich is reported to have requested that his scouts step up their pursuit of Dzagoev in 2010, but as his form dropped and his attitude was called into question, Chelsea's interest tailed off.
5) The 21-year-old scored the stunning free-kick below against Inter in the Champions League in 2011, displaying his superb talent for all types of set-pieces and crosses.

They say
"The most talented young footballer in Russia." Andrey Arshavin

"He's just a super player." Yuri Zhirkov

"Dzagoev plays football not for fame and money, but because football is his life. It is rare today that a victory is more important for a player than the prize money for it, but with Alan, that is exactly the case." Dzagoev's academy coach Igor Rodkin

"A really clever player with the ability to make a killer pass and stretch the play." Guus Hiddink

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