Tag Archives: Premier League

Newcastle United looking to sign another Dutchman?

July 9, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

While many people associate Newcastle with the French connection that has been establishing itself over a number of years, the growing Dutch influence on the squad is beginning to develop. The Magpies have been linked now with right-back Daryl Janmaat ahead of Mathieu Debuchy’s departure from St.James Park and have already completed a deal for Ajax striker Siem de Jong this summer writes Robbie Dunne.

The Netherlands have cruised to a World Cup semi-final on the back of some solid defensive displays after many didn’t give them a chance in a group that involved a fancied Chile side and the holders Spain. Their path to the semi-final has meant added transfer rumours with Daley Blind, Memphis Depay and Daryl Janmaat at the heart of much of that speculation.

The 24-year-old right back had previously been linked to Manchester United, but the Manchester club are said to be stalling on paying the £7 million asking price considering his contract expires next summer and can be picked up on a free trasnfer at that point. They value him more as a £4 million asset and are unwilling to match the asking price. Napoli were also said to be interested in the Dutchman’s services but Newcastle are believed to be in the driving seat regarding his transfer.

Newcastle, however, have a more pressing need at right-back given the departure of Frenchman Debuchy and will be looking to invest some of the money gained from his departure in a new right back to fill the void. The alternative was another Dutchman in Ricardo van Rhijn, who had also garnered attention from Chelsea and Everton.

Janmaat’s delivery from out wide is on of the aspects of his play that has been highlighted with an eye for a key pass central to his game. He has not featured for the Netherlands since being dropped in place of Paul Verhaegh ahead of the first knockout game against Mexico and has not been able to reestablish himself in Van Gaal’s plans despite playing quite well when given his chances.

Newcastle fans are eager to see players being replaced after being sold with growing pressure on owner Mike Ashley to show more ambition to the fans. Janmaat would certainly be a step in the right direction and could give Newcastle a boost, especially if he returns from Brazil with a World Cup Winners’ medal.

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NEWS, TRANSFERS

Tottenham linked to young Ajax defender

July 8, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Prior to the World Cup and before every other player in The Netherlands squad was being linked with moves away, Ajax Director of Football, Marc Overmars issued a warning to Premier League clubs that Joel Veltman would not be leaving the Amsterdam ArenA. Despite the hands-off warning, the 22-year-old and links to the Premier League just won’t go away writes Robbie Dunne.

The Dutch centre-back is seen as a long term solution to Spurs’ issues at the back and amid growing worries over Younes Kaboul’s fitness, it appears they need youth and depth in their ranks. Their other centre-half options are Vlad Chiriches, who had a very good debut season in the Premiership, Michael Dawson, won is almost 31 and has injury woes of his own, and Jan Vertonghen, who is an Ajax Academy player himself and has been linked with moves away, along with not being happy to have been played out of position under Tim Sherwood and Andre Villas Boas.

Veltman played 25 times for Ajax last season and had more impressive stats than every centre-half option in the Spurs’ squad aside from Michael Dawson, who played seven more games.

Veltman moved to Ajax in 2001, having grown up in Velsen, Holland. He made his debut for the first team in 2012 and has been involved in their last two campaigns, last campaign his time on the field saw a dramatic incline, having only featured seven times in in the 2012/13 season. With Ajax having won the Eredivisie yet again, they are set to play Champions League football and with this exposure to the European game, Veltman’s rise is set to continue.

While he possesses the same characteristics that seem innate in so many young Dutch footballers, like being comfortable on the ball, being able to pass out of defense, he is also good in the air and strong in the tackle.

Having spoken with many Dutch experts, they see it increasingly unlikely that a summer move from Ajax will happen, seeing as Veltman is set to anchor Ajax’s first team yet again and needs more time to develop to the demands of the Premier League.

So, all the links to teams such as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs are just wishful thinking? That remains the pressing question. Can Veltman afford to perhaps spend a season in the middle of his development on the bench? Would Arsenal, Spurs or Manchester United be better off allowing him to develop his talents further, arrange a fee perhaps in January and allow Veltman transition into his role as a superstar in the Premier League.

While the development of such a player remains a priority, it would be wise for the clubs looking at the classy centre-back to arrange a fee before the €3.5 million he is valued at turns into a fee that is astronomically higher.

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EREDIVISIE, NEWS

Koeman open to Swansea job

February 9, 2014 Will Burns Leave a comment

Obviously thinking about his future after informing Feyenoord that he will not be extending his contract past this May, Ronald Koeman has admitted that he would be interested in managing in England next season.

Koeman has been linked with the vacant Swansea City job since Michael Laudrup was dismissed last week, but the Dutchman has denied he has held talks with Swans executives about taking over there.

One thing is for sure is that Koeman will not be leaving the Eredivisie side until the end of the current campaign.

After watching his side defeat NEC Nijmegen 5-2 on Saturday evening, in the post-match press conference, Koeman told De Telegraaf: “These reports are strange, I have already agreed my agent here that he will sort out the options I have. He will do the homework at the moment and that is all.

“If that leads to something, I might be ready for it. But for now I will just wait and see what happens. I don’t think anything will happen right now.

“I think it will be April or May before I can clarify anything about my future. At this stage, there has been no contact with Swansea City.”

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EREDIVISIE, NEWS

NEWS: Ajax to link up with Manchester United?

April 30, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

The partnership would see players from the Red Devils loaned to Ajax to gain great experience from first team football and although a plethora of transfers would be unlikely, with Ajax only likely to loan in areas they are in need of strengthening, it could potentially give Manchester United’s youth players a fantastic chance to experience a different footballing culture. The deal seems to be quite a simple one; United will send some of their best young and fringe players on loan to Ajax and in return they could have first refusal over some of the players linked with moves away from the Dutch club.

In an interview with Voetbal International, Frank de Boer said: “If Manchester United talent would prefer to gain experience with Ajax than in the lower divisions in England, then it can be a very interesting option.”

De Boer’s quotes come less than a week after Manchester United Dutch first-team coach Rene Meulensteen admitted to newspaper AD that loaning out the younger players would be a good idea with former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar playing a big role in getting the partnership started. “For our younger players it would be a good idea, rather play at Ajax than in the Championship, I’ll keep Edwin informed.”.

Now that Edwin van der Sar is working as the sporting director at Ajax, the move could prove extremely useful for both sides with the ex-United legend likely to play a key role if the partnership materialises.

Edwin van de Sar now Ajax’s Sporting Director

This season, Ajax have had Barcelona’s highly-rated winger Issac Cuenca on loan with the club and despite his problems with injuries, De Boer is hopeful that the player will go back to Spain with ‘enthusiastic stories’. Barcelona are expected to have a long standing loan partnership with Ajax due to the link that Director of Football Marc Overmars provides, so the loan deal for Cuenca is likely to be the first of many.

Given Ajax’s globally renowned talent at creating and nurturing some of the worlds most gifted players including Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Cruyff, Patrick Kluverit, Edgar Davids, Marco van Basten and Wesley Sneijder, a move would be a great experience for any United youngsters and likely extremely beneficial.

If this deal does come off, and Manchester United do get first refusal on Ajax’s stars then I’m sure that Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen, Viktor Fischer and many more who could all make the 20-time champions a much stronger squad and a much stronger proposition to their rivals.

Ajax are not going to turn into a feeder club because they are under no obligation to sell players to United who don’t wish to move. The Eredivisie is a greatly underrated league in the context of European football and it allows United to get a stronger hold in terms of their scouting network in the Netherlands. It also potentially cuts off the supply line to their main rivals.

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EREDIVISIE, NEWS

NEWS: Adam Maher… Holland’s hottest property!

April 16, 2013 Will Burns Leave a comment

Adam Maher – wanted by the Premier League’s best

It is no surprise to many following the game in the Netherlands that AZ attacking midfielder Adam Maher is perhaps most coveted Dutch footballer at the moment.

Earlier this year in the January transfer window, English Premier League clubs knocked on the door of AZ Alkmaar, and now as the season ends and clubs around Europe await the opening of a new window, the English superpowers are ready to rumble throughout the summer for the Ducth international.

The Morrocan-born Oranje star is wanted by Eredivisie giants PSV and Ajax but the top clubs from the Premier League are in the market and they very well may tempt the playmaker to head to the British Isles.

British newspaper The Mirror have reported that Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are some clubs that Maher would like to attract.

In AZ, they are only too well aware of the foreign interest. On Maher, as what happens with many young Dutch talents an excessively high price tag has been slapped on so that AZ can make some major profit. It is rumoured that interested clubs can tempt AZ to sell him for around £15.4m, which is approximately equivalent to €18m.

But which club is the preference for Maher? Maher himself does not except anything to happen and says to he will wait until the summer. “I look to see which clubs are interested but nothing will be discussed until the summer. “

But as friend of the site, Scottish-based Dutch football expert Peter McVitie added, Maher has said over and over that he wishes to stay in Holland: ‘He has maintained since January that he wants to stay in Eredivisie and, since February, he has made clear that he wants to join one of Ajax or PSV in the summer. He lives in Amsterdam and has praised Ajax several times in recent weeks and he has actually said that he has an idea which club he would prefer to join.’

For Maher, who would like to leave with his ailing club, it is hoped that when he does leave this summer, AZ make as much as they can so they use the funds to be a force in the Eredivisie again.

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