January Transfer Targets in the Eredivisie

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There are four months between the Summer and Winter Transfer Markets and within those four months, things can change quite dramatically for players. Net worth can decrease, potentials can fade away and prospects might become disappointments. In the past 18 weeks in the Eredivisie all of that has happened.
Usually I make lists of players that are the best transfer targets for that period when the markets are open. This Winter, I have to make an exception because a many players that were bound to go abroad in the Summer never made a move. The case of Ola Toivonen is a prime example of that. PSV have been trying to get a 1 year extension signed by the Swede. Problem is, he is already at the salary-cap but he still demands more. Problem for Ola is that he hasn’t shown his worth on the pitch in recent months. His net worth has declined fast and a few clubs seem to be interested in his services. Dutch media have also been reporting that he has been a big part of the dysfunction within the PSV team, causing all sorts of problems in the locker room.

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Whilst Toivonen is one case, there are many more, so here is a list with the disappointments in the Eredivisie:

Jordie Clasie(Feyenoord CM): Has regressed, lacks experience to be a leader in midfield. Even though his work-rate is good, he has been very inconsistent.

Siem de Jong(Ajax AM): After his lung collapsed early in the season he has been out of form and picked up injury after injury. Has been replaced by Davy Klaassen.

Stefan de Vrij(Feyenoord): Inconsistent, extremely regressed in his development and defensively very weak. Feyenoord is lucky to have Joris Mathijsen because this was supposed to be the season to let De Vrij take leadership of the defence and the team, he horribly failed to do both.

Viktor Fischer(Ajax LW,ST): Lost his form of last year. He has the quality but so far has been a bit too eager to show his talent. Defenders have discovered how to take him out and since then hasn’t been very effective.

Kolbein Sightorsson(Ajax ST): Injury after injury and when he is in good health, proves that he is not a class striker, just a very, very average one.

Adam Maher(PSV CM): THE biggest disappointment of the season. Can’t seem to find his way in the PSV team. Still shows signs of brilliance now and then but they should put him on the missing persons list in Eindhoven as he has been invisible in the entire first half of the season.

Georgino Wijnaldum(PSV AM): Good start of the season but has been injured for 3 months.

So these names are the ones to avoid this Winter, but even though the Eredivisie has been ransacked in the Summer, there are still a couple of names on the ‘to watch’-list for clubs in the EPL.

Alfred Finnbogason(Heerenveen ST): He was in top form at the start of the season but ran a bit out of steam a bit towards the end of the year. Very consistent striker but, and this is a big but, still needs a lot of chances to score goals. His positioning and finishing are currently the best for a striker in the Eredivisie, on top of that he is incredibly strong as well. His technique, speed and ball security however are below par and cause him to miss a lot of chances. SC Heerenveen tried to extend his contract but so far Finnbogason has snubbed all offers and wants to move on. With 1.5 years left on his contract he could be a bargain for any team that can take a big risk. There is one condition though, he needs minutes. Used as a sub, he is worthless. Worth 4-6 million pounds

Daley Blind Ajax(LB, DM): Extremely consistent and has made quite a development defensively. He became a decent left back last season but lacks top speed to be effective. Frank de Boer has put him on midfield this season next to Davy Klaassen and made a direct impact there. His passing and positioning are superb and therefore could attract the interest of clubs. Worth 6-8 million pounds.

Davy Pröpper (Vitesse CM): Ever since the departure of Marco van Ginkel to Chelsea, Pröpper has been the rising star at Vitesse. This midfielder got the chance to be the play maker in midfield and took it. The guy has been phenomenal this season. Worth 2-5 million as his contract runs out this season, but he is in talks with the club to get an extension.

[video=youtube;UC7qKZpU9dQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC7qKZpU9dQ[/video]

Maarten Martens(AZ Alkmaar, AM): This 29 year old Belgian is inconsistent, but has brilliant technique. Poor work-rate and a bit complacent but, he has half a year left on his contract and is not willing to sign an extension. Potential bargain for 1 or 2 million pounds.

Roy Beerens(AZ Alkmaar, RW): This guy has been the engine of AZ this season. He is a box to box winger with an extremely high work-rate. His tactics, vision and technique are good but his problem is his finishing. A lot of chances he tries to convert himself and most of the time he shoots them in the second ring. At a bigger club he would probably look for options more and therefore could be a very good winger for the EPL. 4-5 million pounds.

Dusan Tadic(FC Twente AM/RM): Bit invisible this season but still is a quality attacking midfielder. His technique, passing and shooting makes him one of the best players in the league. Could be an option for lower table clubs. 5-7 million pounds.

Kenneth Vermeer(Ajax GK): Fallen out of grace with Frank de Boer and got benched. The guy is still a good Michel Vorm type of goalie with excellent reflexes. At 29 he is in need of a new club and therefore on a cheap: 2-3 million pounds.

Others on the list:

-Luc Castaignos(FC Twente, ST): Poor start of the season but regained some of his form in November. Still misses a lot of chances but his positioning, work rate and his concentration are top notch.
-Filip Kostic(Groningen, AM): 21y old AM with brilliant passes, tactics and a good vision on the pitch. 5-6 million.
-Kristoffer Nordfeldt(SC Heerenveen): Flappy but experienced goalkeeper. Poor technique and distribution but excellent at shot stopping, neutralizing crosses and one-on-ones. Just an old school goalie. 3-5 million.
-Graziano Pelle(Feyenoord ST): Bit reluctant to put his name in here, never had any success outside of the Eredivisie but an amazing striker for Feyenoord. A killer in the box, at Feyenoord they have one policy when it comes to attacking: give the ball to Pelle. 8-10 million.
-Lasse Schöne(Ajax) : Solid, experienced midfielder. 27y old, 5-7 million
-Hakim Ziyech(SC Heerenveen): Revelation of the season, gifted midfielder with brilliant free kicks and long range shots. At 18 too young to make a move but a definite must watch this season.

And that’s the list of transfer targets this Winter.

 

"Siem de Jong(Ajax AM): After his lung collapsed early in the season he has been out of form and picked up injury after injury. Has been replaced by Davy Klaassen."

I think he has a pretty good excuse for his form dropping!

On another note, I appreciate these posts you make, always give me more of an insight into the Eredivisie.

 

I wrote a couple of blogs on Siem de Jong on my website, gives more context on why this season he has been out of sorts. He recovered in 6 weeks from the collapsed lung but every since, he's been struggling. You can read all about it on my website mate

 

If you could recommend any striker that we should sign, who would it be? Considering they would be interested in coming to us and we can afford them.

 

Danny Hoesen just might, wouldn't recommend it as he's not ball secure enough. Lex Immers is sloppy and not really a striker but relegation football would suit him. Other than those two the league has been pretty much depleted for lower table club strikers.

 

That write up on Finbogasson sounds like Danny Graham in disguise.

 

It seems to me that the level of Dutch foolball at the moment is not at it's best, and difficult to assess whether a striker from this league can hack it in the EPL. Altidore was banging them in Holland, but since he has come back to the EPL is it ****e.

 

You could also say that Bony, who scored a similar amount in the league for Vitesse, has done really well.

Horses for courses.

 

Cove how would you rate the Altidore of last season with AZ compared to the strikers on your current list.? Disregard this season in the EPL.

 

Nice one Cove.

What sort of level would you put Quincy Promes at? He looks a bit of a raw talent worth watching to me. Right winger with an eye for goal. I wondered if he could play in a number 10 role?

I've seen a couple of stories claiming he's being monitored by Arsenal.

 

Finnbogason comes close but he lacks the strength and technique Altidore has(yes Altidore as a very good free kick for example). The Eredivisie is depleted of solid strikers, barred from Lucas Piazon but he is on loan from Chelsea, therefore didn't made the list.

 

Promes has looked very good in the past couple of month, but he is not in the prime group of talents at Twente right now. Eghan, Ebecilio and Guitierrez are the darlings of the fans and the press at the moment. Promes has scored his fair share of goals and some were done with some excellent rushes over the flank but he can get carried away from time to time. He played in the Jupiler League(championship level) last year and has only played half a season on top level. So I'd say he needs a couple of seasons before he is ready.

 

I can't see Daley Blind leaving Ajax, simply because of the strong connection he has with the club. I visited the Amsterdam ArenA at the time Daley was promoted to the first team and made his debut - there was posters and shirts everywhere with 'Blind' on the back, obviously there was a lot of interest due to who his father is, but still - it was very OTT for a newcomer from the youth team. Suarez was captain at the time, yet Blind outnumbered his merchandise by a long way.