Toon linked with Dutch Defender

from NUFC blog.....

News from Holland today that Newcastle are watching FC Groningen’s young Dutch defender, Virgil van Dijk.



Virgil van Dijk – 20 year-old center-back


The 20 year-old Dutch U21 International central defender stands 6’4″ tall, and if the Dutch news service RTV Noord is to be believed, Newcastle are really interested in this player.

Newcastle will need to bring in another center-back during the summer, and if they can get a top youngster like van Dijk, he could challenge Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Mike Williamson for a starting position in the Newcastle side next season.

And with being young, he will have some time to adjust to the English Premier League, with little pressure on him.

RTV Noord are reporting that Newcastle have been in contact with his agent, Henk Chin, and it seems that his club have also confirmed Newcastle’s interest.

The youngster has appeared 27 times for FC Groningen with 5 goals and 2 assists over the last couple of seasons, and he is one of the top youngsters in the Eredivisie.

The lad is said to be good friends with Chelsea’ Patrick van Aanholt, who was on loan at Newcastle in February of 2010 on Tyneside, and appeared 7 times when Jose Enrique was out injured.

Patrick is currently on loan at Dutch club Vitesse, and we wonder if Newcastle could still be interested in the 21 year-old Dutch U21 International?

Newcastle began their interest in van Dijk early last year, but it would not surprise us if a number of top youngsters arrive at Newcastle this summer, and the Magpies already seem to have done their homework for the coming summer transfer window.

The lad is contracted to Groningen through the summer of 2015, after signing a contract extension last September, so some fee will have to be paid if Newcastle bring him to Tyneside.

From what we can tell, this lad looks like an impressive youngster, and we’ll just have to see if he’s one who will be coming through the door in the summer.

Here’s some video of Virgil van Dijk, and that’s him scoring his first ever goal for Groningen – and he looks a big lad – and presumably good in the air.

 

Just been told by a lad I know that this is almost a done deal as Charnley over talking to the lad tomorrow.

 

PVA would be good

 

I liked the look of him too.

 

I don't believe for one minute that there is anyone by this name. Van? Seriously!? I refuse to believe.

 

Another Hesakmi?

 

Is it bad that I do not care who he is? I saw central defender and thought "sign the ****er". Sorry Willo.

 

He must better than Perch and Williamson surely?

It would be great to see yet more young, exciting talent coming to us rather than over-priced "proven players" coming here and flopping

 

Rip Van Winkle and Dick Van Dyke were both seen coming out of SJP today.

 

He has a beard so is rather a hairy vanny

 

Well he certainly has a Dutch name!

 

If hes called virgil guess he likes pulling strings

 

Dick vd was class

 

I feel almost certain, that the English spelling of 'centre' is thus.

 

Fits with our recruitment profile