I waited a couple of weeks with this thread as the Dutch league ended on the last Sunday of May, with the play-offs for European football and relegation played the time is nigh to write an update on all the players in the Eredivisie, which ones will likely go, all the bargains and the super talents that you should be watching closely for the next couple of years, here are the Eredivisie Summer transfer targets! please log in to view this image Ajax won their third consecutive Eredivisie champions title this year and every summer manager Frank de Boer had to deal with a decimated team by the end of the Summer transfer period. In 2012 Vurnon Anita, Jan Vertonghen, Theo Jansen and Gregory van der Wiel were sold. In came Niklas Moisander, Viktor Fischer, Christian Poulsen, Lasse Schöne and Ryan Babel, yep the same Babel who played for Liverpool. De Boer had four Danes to select but the main question will be for Ajax: how many will there be left at the end of the Summer? Christian Poulsen was on a two year contract till 2014 and probably won't get a new contract as he is 32 years old, which doesn't fit Ajax' policy to develop youth players for the first squad only. Super talent Viktor Fischer already extended his contract to 2017 and has in his first season attracted a lot of attention from the scouts of the big clubs. The third Dane Lasse Schöne has a contract till 2015. But the main issue in Amsterdam is Christian Eriksen, after four seasons with Ajax the young Dane feels he is ready for the next step. For Ajax there is one draw back in selling the player: he has one year left on his contract which practically means a 50% off price deal will be made to make at least some money in a transfer. That being said: Eriksen will definitely be the bargain of the year, originally valued between 20-25 million pounds this youngster might leave the Amsterdam Arena for 7 to 9 million tops now. Liverpool, Dortmund and a couple of of clubs have already enquired at the club and the chance that of a sale this summer is next to 99% or higher. Other top talents at Ajax are Siem de Jong and Toby Alderweireld. De Jong is an all round player: DM/CM/AM/ST/RW, he is one of the most versatile players in the Eredivisie and clubs in the Bundesliga will be handing in their bids for the player in June and July, who has two years left on his contract. If Ajax want to cash in, his market value is between 13 and 16 million pounds, they will have to do it this summer or they will face the same situation as they are in now with Eriksen. Moving on to Toby Alderweireld, with one year left on his contract, this 24 year old Belgian has a couple of options in the Premier League as a couple of clubs are interested in signing him, Spurs, Liverpool and even ManU have are rumoured to hand in a bid for the defender. Though the latter club seems extremely unlikely to do so. The Dutch press however thinks he is likely to go to the Serie A join Maarten Stekelenburg at AS Roma or go to Internazionale. The player has one major downside, and every scout probably knows it: he is no Vertonghen, which will lower his price to 4 maybe 5 million pounds. The last of the Summer targets at Ajax is Kenneth Vermeer, the goalie from Suriname who plays for the Dutch National team says he is ready for the Premier League or the Spanish League. With two years left on this contract this 27 year old was rumoured to be on the 'to watch list' for Aston Villa, Arsenal and even FC Barcelona. Mainly due to his reflexes and line stopping this goalkeeper is a very similar player as Michel Vorm at Swansea. To summarize this all: It seems likely that half of the above mentioned player will leave Ajax this summer and even though Frank de Boer extended his contract to 2017, most of his players will be gone and he will have to start rebuilding again. Footnote: Even though Ricardo van Rhijn had a great season at Ajax, at 21 and just one full season I can't see him leave the club at this stage. With a contract to 2015 I can see him extending his contract for a couple of years and move on in 2 or 3 years from now. please log in to view this image This picture above sums up the talents in the Eredivisie. Some came through this season and some horribly failed. But lets start with the first one, Jeroen Zoet, this 22 year old talent is part of the next generation of top goalies from The Netherlands. After two years being loaned out to RKC Waalwijk he will return to PSV this summer and he might just play. Boy Waterman's contract runs out and Tyton was benched the entire season. He is the goalie to watch in the 2013-2014 season. Lets skip Van Rhijn and move on to Patrick van Aanholt, who had a decent season at Vitesse Arnhem. Loaned out by Chelsea but the player is keen on extending his loan for another year. He has improved immensely this season both in attacking and defending and I could see Chelsea wanting to sell the player this summer, could be a bargain for any lower table club. The fourth player: Tonny Vilhena is one of many Feyenoord youth players that have come through this season and some of them are heavily scouted in the past few months. Vilhena along with Boëtius, Clasie, Mulder, De Vrij, Martins Indi and Janmaat have all shown incredible progress despite their youth, 21 on average, they look very mature and composed on the pitch. De Vrij recently extended his contract with a year and Feyenoord is keen on cashing in this summer, but not at all costs. Jordy Clasie is a pain in the butt so far for Feyenoord, refusing to sign a new contract he has only one year left on his current. Either Feyenoord have to sell him or watch him walk out for free next year. Contract negotiations have been going on for months now but Clasie deems all offers so far as unworthy of a player of his stature and he demands higher wages. This 21 year old gutsy player on the pitch may be small, 5 foot 6, but his stamina and mentality is incredible. Feyenoord are in a tough position which could force them to sell, and this in turn could be a big bargain. Adam Maher, in the previous editions of my transfer target blogs I named him as a priority target and this summer it looks like it's finally time for him to leave AZ Alkmaar. Ajax are keen to replace Eriksen and are eager to get Maher but PSV Eindhoven are also in the hunt for this 19 year old midfielder which will cost them a lot, between 7 and 10 million euro's, for the Eredivisie that is silly money. PSV are also wanting to buy him because they will likely sell off half their squad this summer, they other half's contracts are running out. Waterman, Van Bommel, Bouma, Engelaar and Hutchinson will leave the club this summer as free agents. Pieters and Toivonen have one year left on their contracts, Lens, Mertens and Strootman are heavily linked with Premier League clubs, and PSV are very keen on selling as they are in big financial problems if the EU court rules that the financial support through Eindhoven County was illegal. PSV will have to repay 42 million euro's if that happens. Most of the players have contract till 216 or 2017 but Marcelo, Zanka and Tim Matavz all have been deemed light weights and may be sold cheaply this summer. The last player in the picture is Luciano Narsingh, who experienced a season he will soon forget, injured for 6 months, benched by Dick Advocaat but in the games he did play he still showed he is a top talent. And he is the man to watch next season if either Lens or Mertens are sold. please log in to view this image No I haven't forgotten him, I just saved the best for last: Wilfried Bony. He is going, to where? No one knows. Vitesse managed to hang on to the Ivory Coast player but they have to let him go this summer. The Eredivisie top scorer in the 2012-2013 season has made up his mind in the winter but no bids came in. With 31 goals this year he was watched by scouts from every major club in Europe. With two years left on his contract the clubs will have to pay the price for this player, somewhere between 10 and 18 million pounds. There is no possible way to put an accurate price tag on him as Chelsea might have a discount as Vitesse is their satellite club. Bony isn't the only target at Vitesse however. Marco van Ginkel, Gael Kakuta and Renato Ibarra have all been linked with clubs in the Premier league and are all names to watch this summer or next season. Kakuta is like Van Aanholt on loan from Chelsea but Ibarra and Van Ginkel are potential bargains as they are young with a lot of potential, but not as hyped as Bony or Eriksen. To conclude this blog we move to FC Twente where there are two players that are worth mentioning: Tadic and Chadli. These two attacking mid fielders have carried Twente this season and are both technically as tactically possibly the two best players in the Eredivisie. Chadli is maybe a bit injury prone but Tadic has been very constant and has been a key player for Twente this season. Chadli is already heavily linked with Fulham and Shakthar Donetsk. Another player that deserves mentioning is Douglas, this central defender has been neutralized to play for the Dutch National squad but due to a somewhat disappointing season he hasn't been selected by Louis van Gaal and his contract is running out this summers. So this is a bargain all right, but maybe not the kind a club wants, or needs. The very last name in this blog is Leroy Fer, after a deal with Everton fell through in the winter the player is still keen to make a move to England. I personally doubt it will happen but with Moyes gone, maybe a couple of players will follow which means that Everton might have a go at him again. And that's it! You've been briefed for this summer, hope you enjoyed the read!
It's great to have an 'insider's' view of Dutch talent. It would be nice to think that City might have a chance for Eriksen or Aanholt, but I suspect there will be a lot of competition. Similarly for Maher, but is there any particular reason Marco Van Ginkel of Vitesse hasn't been included?
He is, but there is so much speculation going on around him which I just can't fathom. He is in my opinion a really average player with above par technique and good mentality, but that's about it. Bit too much hype going on to really give an objective read of him right now. I'd reckon it's most likely that IF he goes, that it would be to PSV or Ajax.
Much as I'd like Eriksen, I fear if he goes anywhere it'll be for £20m+ to a real top side, no disrespect to the Dutch league.
I can understand that DH, but we thought that about RvW and it might just be that the big clubs look elsewhere and leave a similar gap in the £7-9m range Cove is suggesting. IMO, ACM is the big signing needed in this window if City are to push on. Perhaps savings can be made elsewhere by bringing in a LB who can also play CB (Mulgrew of Celtic?). A goal-scoring mid-fielder would be a huge bonus (he scored 10 goals in 33 appearances for Ajax last year).
Heard Van Ginkel is going to Chelsea the other day, I know we were linked to him a month or so back. On Christian Eriksen, I agree he will still cost towards £20 million despite the contract. He is a very good player and to be honest could see him in La Liga next season. If Falcao goes I could see him at Atletico Madrid next year.
Honestly, if we sign Christian Eriksen, I'll, I'll, well frankly I'm not sure what I'd do. Probably spontaneously combust.
Well you might be spot on there as reports drop in that Falcao is heading to AS Monaco for 60 million euro's. If that deal comes through then they've got money to spend and we'll likely see a bidding war starting between Dortmund, ManC and Atletico.
Yeah they will have money to spend, they could afford Eriksen and a top forward with that money. Wouldn't be surprised if Bony was to go to Atletico as well to replace Falcao.
According to the BBC Dortmund put in a 10 million pound bid for Eriksen, with additions could go up to 13 million pounds. This is a big bid, looks like a done deal if so. Wasn't far off with my 9 million pound tops prediction.
Cove briefly mentioned Erik Pieters from PSV. 24 yr old Left Back, has 15 caps for Holland and wants a move to the premier league...like the sound of him! Likewise, Teixera Douglas from Twente. Would be a Bosman free transfer, CB in his midtwenties. Might be a bit harsh on R Bennett and Michael Turner to pursue a top CB and push them to 3rd/4th choice, but at times Bassong's absence made us look shambolic last season, so a good value CB would help give us much needed quality and depth! Looks like there are some bargains to be had in the Eridivisie
I think that Erik Pieters from PSV is just the sort of LB we should be looking for. First choice LB in the Netherlands national team with 15 caps so far, he would be an excellent signing.
