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 16 League games in his first half season with the club. Last season he managed 21 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.
Posted by Walter Townsend on Friday, 11th January 2008
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