carlyluvsunited
11-01-2008, 11:32 PM
Manchester United chasing the new van Nistelrooy?
Reports in today's papers have indicated that Alex Ferguson is preparing a bid for
Ajax's young striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar known in Holland as 'The Hunter'. The
current Holland international has drawn favourable comparisons with his
compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy with the career path of the pair even bearing
similarities.
Although Ferguson initially indicated there wouldn't be extra reinforcements
arriving at Old Trafford in the winter the management may now go back on this if
the chance arises to bring Huntelaar in.
Manchester United have long been credited with an interest in the striker and
were thought to have bid to bring the player to the Premiership 18 months ago,
in the wake of the van Nistelrooy departure to Real Madrid. The initial bid was
rejected by Ajax after the player had only spent 6 months with the side.
With Ajax now looking to raise some capital after their failure to make it into the
Champions League Group Stages for the last two seasons the Amsterdam club
are now looking to move some of their players on to raise some capital.
Huntelaar is certainly their biggest asset and would easily fetch £15 million on the
current transfer market. Huntelaar has been with the club since joining from SC
Heerenveen in the winter of 2005 for some £6 million, a record for any player
moving between Dutch clubs. Huntelaar had been with Heerenveen after being
released by PSV after he was released by them after he was unable to break
into the first team.
Like van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar came of age with the Friesian club of Heerenveen,
who have an excellent record of bringing on strikers after also developing Jon
Dahl Tomasson and Alfonso Alves in recent times. During his second full season
with the club Huntelaar was on his way to break all goal-scoring records in the
Dutch league by notching 17 goals in a mere 15 League games prior to his winter
move to Ajax.
Huntelaar's goal scoring exploits have continued in Amsterdam with 16 goals in 1
6 League games in his first half season with the club. Last season he managed 2
1 goals in 32 appearances and this season already has 15 goals in the Eredivisie
against his name.
Unfortunately despite the presence of Huntelaar in the squad Ajax have been
able to maintain any interest in Europe and were knocked out of both the
Champions League by Slavia Prague and then the UEFA Cup by Dinamo Zagreb
thus necessitating the need to generate income from player sales rather than
prize money.
Ajax may also have to consider bids for some of their other players with
Tottenham being linked with moves for their Dutch international goalkeeper
Maarten Stekelenburg and left back Urby Emmanuelson, who has also been
tracked by Fiorentina.
Huntelaar is undoubtedly well suited to the English game and given the chance
would prove to be an excellent acquisition for the club. His work-rate is
comparable to that of Dirk Kuijt, his Dutch international colleague, but is arguably
a better technical player. Comfortable on both feet and at 6"1 he is also useful in
the air.
His one potential weakness could be his pace - he certainly doesn't possess
blistering pace although his no slow-coach. At 23 Huntelaar is still maturing but
holds the record for the number of goals scored at U21 level with 17 goals at
youth level helping his side to two consecutive U21 European titles.
Manchester United had previously said there wouldn't be any new arrivals at the
club but have already been heavily linked with Lyon forward Karim Benzema, who
has, like Huntelaar, caught the eye domestically. Were United to consider a move
for Benzema they will have to fend off major interest in the striker from Real
Madrid, Inter and AC Milan, all of whom have also shown an interest in the 20
year old.
Both players are out and out finishers a type of player that currently United don't
possess in their ranks. Tevez and Rooney have certainly forged an excellent
understanding with each other but the availability of a striker such as Huntelaar
or Benzema would certainly give Ferguson another option, an extra cutting edge,
especially if his side were chasing a game.
If any new arrivals materialise at Old Trafford Louis Saha is expected to make for
the exits at United with Lyon being heavily linked for a move with the Frenchman
to make room in the squad. www.aboutaball.co.uk
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
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Reports in today's papers have indicated that Alex Ferguson is preparing a bid for
Ajax's young striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar known in Holland as 'The Hunter'. The
current Holland international has drawn favourable comparisons with his
compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy with the career path of the pair even bearing
similarities.
Although Ferguson initially indicated there wouldn't be extra reinforcements
arriving at Old Trafford in the winter the management may now go back on this if
the chance arises to bring Huntelaar in.
Manchester United have long been credited with an interest in the striker and
were thought to have bid to bring the player to the Premiership 18 months ago,
in the wake of the van Nistelrooy departure to Real Madrid. The initial bid was
rejected by Ajax after the player had only spent 6 months with the side.
With Ajax now looking to raise some capital after their failure to make it into the
Champions League Group Stages for the last two seasons the Amsterdam club
are now looking to move some of their players on to raise some capital.
Huntelaar is certainly their biggest asset and would easily fetch £15 million on the
current transfer market. Huntelaar has been with the club since joining from SC
Heerenveen in the winter of 2005 for some £6 million, a record for any player
moving between Dutch clubs. Huntelaar had been with Heerenveen after being
released by PSV after he was released by them after he was unable to break
into the first team.
Like van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar came of age with the Friesian club of Heerenveen,
who have an excellent record of bringing on strikers after also developing Jon
Dahl Tomasson and Alfonso Alves in recent times. During his second full season
with the club Huntelaar was on his way to break all goal-scoring records in the
Dutch league by notching 17 goals in a mere 15 League games prior to his winter
move to Ajax.
Huntelaar's goal scoring exploits have continued in Amsterdam with 16 goals in 1
6 League games in his first half season with the club. Last season he managed 2
1 goals in 32 appearances and this season already has 15 goals in the Eredivisie
against his name.
Unfortunately despite the presence of Huntelaar in the squad Ajax have been
able to maintain any interest in Europe and were knocked out of both the
Champions League by Slavia Prague and then the UEFA Cup by Dinamo Zagreb
thus necessitating the need to generate income from player sales rather than
prize money.
Ajax may also have to consider bids for some of their other players with
Tottenham being linked with moves for their Dutch international goalkeeper
Maarten Stekelenburg and left back Urby Emmanuelson, who has also been
tracked by Fiorentina.
Huntelaar is undoubtedly well suited to the English game and given the chance
would prove to be an excellent acquisition for the club. His work-rate is
comparable to that of Dirk Kuijt, his Dutch international colleague, but is arguably
a better technical player. Comfortable on both feet and at 6"1 he is also useful in
the air.
His one potential weakness could be his pace - he certainly doesn't possess
blistering pace although his no slow-coach. At 23 Huntelaar is still maturing but
holds the record for the number of goals scored at U21 level with 17 goals at
youth level helping his side to two consecutive U21 European titles.
Manchester United had previously said there wouldn't be any new arrivals at the
club but have already been heavily linked with Lyon forward Karim Benzema, who
has, like Huntelaar, caught the eye domestically. Were United to consider a move
for Benzema they will have to fend off major interest in the striker from Real
Madrid, Inter and AC Milan, all of whom have also shown an interest in the 20
year old.
Both players are out and out finishers a type of player that currently United don't
possess in their ranks. Tevez and Rooney have certainly forged an excellent
understanding with each other but the availability of a striker such as Huntelaar
or Benzema would certainly give Ferguson another option, an extra cutting edge,
especially if his side were chasing a game.
If any new arrivals materialise at Old Trafford Louis Saha is expected to make for
the exits at United with Lyon being heavily linked for a move with the Frenchman
to make room in the squad. www.aboutaball.co.uk
Click below to join manutdtalk.com forums to read and
discuss all breaking news on all things United !!! Come talk to us….
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php