Tag Archives: FC Porto

PSV interests Belgium hardman Steven Defour

July 22, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

If PSV and FC Porto can agree a transfer fee, Steven Arnold Defour could be on the verge of joining the Eindhoven club after 3 years with the Portuguese giants. Defour’s agent Paul Stefani was originally quoted as saying “PSV are a big club and would certainly be of interest to Steve”. He is now saying that Defour has an agreement in principal with PSV but that it also depends on whether Porto allow him to leave.

Porto are certainly not lacking in midfield with players such as Hector Herrera, Josue and Juan Quintero already there and both Casemiro and Oliver Torres joining this summer on loan. Presumably as one of the more senior players at 26, Defour is likely to be on higher wages than most at the club so Porto will probably allow him to leave. PSV will bring him in to provide cover in midfield after Park Ji-Sung retired and Bryan Ruiz returned to Fulham. Also after having such a good World Cup, Georginio Wijnaldum could be a target for one or two European clubs.

Defour was born in Mechelen, Belgium and played youth football for KV Mechelen, before moving to KRC Genk in 2004. At the age of just 17 he became first choice for Genk in the 2005-06 campaign and finished it with 26 games and 1 goal. That season Genk failed to reach European football and this made Defour try and force a move to Ajax. Genk refused because the Dutch club had approached the player without the club’s permission, forcing Ajax to pull out. Defour threatened to leave over this but Ajax were no longer interested and Defour ended up signing for Standard Liege for a much reduced fee.

In his 2^nd year at Standard he was named Captain at just 19 and won the Belgian Golden Shoe (Domestic Player of the Year) for helping his team to the domestic title for the first time in 25 years. During his time at Standard he was linked with quite a few big European clubs, including Manchester United after Defour received a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson wishing him well after Defour broke his foot in 2009.

In the summer of 2011 he signed for FC Porto for €6 million, signing a five-year contract. In his first year he made 37 appearances and scored 2 goals helping Porto to the league title. Last season he wasn’t as vital in Porto’s midfield as he had been in previous years, making only 16 appearances and scoring no goals, which is probably why he is linked with a move away.

Steven Defour is an accomplished central midfielder, who has good vision as well as being a tough tackler; he will add some bite and drive to the PSV midfield, which already contains the likes of Maher and Wijnaldum. If PSV can sign him and keep Wijnaldum then they will surely challenge for the Eredivisie title this year because they will have signed a player coming into his prime and already a proven winner.

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Porto sign Martins Indi – Clasie to follow?

July 15, 2014 Will Burns 1 Comment

After signing Bruno Martins Indi on a four year deal, Portuguese giants FC Porto are now said to be interested in acquiring the services of Feyenoord midfielder Jordy Clasie.

With the Dutch club looking more likely to lose Stefan de Vrij, and Daryl Janmaat, Graziano Pelle along with Martins Indi already gone, in such a short space of time, they are in no hurry to part ways with the holding midfielder. Clasie’s agent has spoken but only to confirm that there are clubs interested in his client, but no concrete offer has been received by Feyenoord.

Defender Martins Indi today signed a four year contract with Porto, settling on of the most anticipated transfers of the summer, for a 7.7million fee.

Martins Indi told VI.nl: “This feels like the right time to leave, I have played over a hundred games for the club and played in my first World Cup. I have said from the start that I hoped that if I ever make the next step in my career that it would be for better for I or the club. Feyenoord have received great financial benefit for me while I’m looking forward to a new challenge in Portugal. “

In regards to Jordy Clasie, Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel, has said in De Telegraaf that, “With Jordy there is less pressure to leave, he is happy at Feyenoord and we would definitely not want to lose him.” One of the main objectives this summer for Van Geel was to make Feyenoord financially more stable and he is currently doing that with two big sales, so the club are in no way being held to ransom by their own bank account. Although, relations between the club are good seeing as Porto have already signed ex-Feyenoord man Bruno Martins Indi recently.

In so far as other players are concerned, this may not be the case. Van Geel admitted that players like Stefan de Vrij, who only has one year left on his contract, may be be sold if the right offer comes along. Clasie’s contract runs until the summer of 2018 which gives the club a little more control over the matter when an offers comes in.

The 23-year-old made his debut for Oranje in 2012 and has since represented his country on 10 occasions, the latest as a substitute in the semi-final defeat to Argentina in World Cup 2014. Clasie is your typical Dutch defensive midfielder, who has no gaping holes in any area of his game. He enjoys when the ball is at his feet and can defend capably. Porto are certainly in the market for a defensive midfielder, and it appears Clasie can be the man to fill that role, if they can only convince Martin van Geel that the price is right.

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Defour keen on PSV

July 11, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Twenty-six-year-old Belgian midfielder Steven Defour has declared his interest in moving to PSV Eindhoven from his current club FC Porto.

Thijs Slegers of Voetbal International has stated that Defour’s agent will travel to the Netherlands’ this weekend in order to work out a deal for the midfielder.

The Belgian international moved to Porto in 2011 and has made 65 appearences for the club while being a Belgian international for the last eight years, making his debut in 2006.

However, Defour struggled for form this year with Porto and only made one appearance during Belgium’s World Cup campaign. The once highly-rated midfielder seems to have stagnated in his development. His current market value is around €7 million and his contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2016.

Defour is partly owned by FC Porto and partly owned by investment firm Doyen Sports Group. Any deal that occurs will have to be given the green light by both parties. This deal may not go through until next week as the Belgian is currently on holiday in Bali.

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