Yaw Ampofo Ankrah is an international Sports Journalist currently on a tour of Europe. He has been tracking down some of Ghana's prominent as well as lesser known footballers. In his latest dispatch,he reveals heightened interest in Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Yao Kumordzi who plays for FC Pananios in Greece. Black Stars and FC Panionios midfielder Bennard Kumordzi could be the latest Ghanaian footballer to join the African ranks in the English Premier League (EPL). The 25-year-old was a summer target of Arsenal and was seen as an ideal character who could easily adapt to Arsene Wenger's philosophy of the game at the Emirates. A future premiership deal would be quite remarkable for a player who only got his breakthrough with a Division 6 Amateur club in Sweden called FC Norrkoping where he played as a midfielder though he left Ghana as a central defender. The skillful player narrowly missed selection to represent the Black Stars in South Africa after suffering an ankle injury on a training tour in France. Yet, with his current scoring and attacking abilities, he is rated among the best players in Greece and can easily reach a 15-goals-average per season in England. When he was asked about these latest reports, Kumordzi was as usual coy, saying "I am happy with my current situation here in Greece but of course as a professional footballer you always want to improve and play at the highest level." A World Cup appearance may have brought that dream to fruition as the 75% appearances quota would have been necessary for the acquisition of a UK work permit. However, it is still possible for Kumordzi to agree a pre-contract and make a summer move to the EPL. Even if Arsenal appear to have cooled their interest for now,a number of other teams have locked him on their radar waiting to pounce. The arrival of manager Gerard Houllier at struggling Aston Villa and his open declaration that he will not pause to inject fresh midfield limbs to his squad has alerted a number of clubs in lesser endowed European leagues especially Greece,Belgium and Turkey. Similarly, Avram Grant's slow managerial progress at West Ham which has been blamed on limited options and lack of midfield bite, has roused scouts and agents in Europe to lookout for creative midfielders who can score,create, as well as play holding roles. Newly promoted Blackpool are also reportedly looking for midfield reinforcements but their manager Ian Holloway may struggle to persuade directors to fork out the asking price in the region of $5 million for the gangling and combative Ghanaian. Kumordzi was on the score sheet at the weekend for his Greek club against giants and reigning champions Panathinaikos in a 2-1 defeat. His injury time goal was just reward for his 'man of the match' performance and brought a semblance of respectability to the scoreline in a game dominated by Panathinaikos yet largely controlled by Kumordzi's midfield enterprise. Ironically, Panathinaikos were on the verge of signing Kumordzi in the summer but negotiations failed because the two parties could not agree on the transfer price which included two players and cash. They have not entirely given up the chase and could be buying time to launch an improved bid in the new year. Realistically speaking, the January transfer window is not as far away as it may appear and a new bid from elsewhere in Europe is also distant possibility. In the mean time, performances such as Saturday's by the player who missed World Cup selection for his country due to injury will do his ambitions no harm at all. Potential suitors will be keeping tabs on Kumordzi who has been included in Ghana's squad for the ANC home qualifier against Sudan on October 10th in the city of Kumasi. Kumordzi made his international debut for Ghana against Brazil on March 27, 2007 at the Rasunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden. Click on the link below to view Bernard Kumordzi's goal