Rafael Van der Vaart: £8M Real Madrid Dutch Master Up for Grabs: Perfect for Liverpool, Spurs, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa or Everton?

According to reports in the Spanish, Dutch and German press Rafael van der Vaart will be allowed to leave the Bernabeu for a knockdown fee of just £8m. Chelsea have reportedly been offered the player while Italian side Napoli have been strongly linked though may struggle with his wages.

Interest in the player from the Premier League was fierce before he joined Real so expect Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa to renew their interest for a relatively low price for a 26-year-old.

The Dutchman has grown disgruntled at his lack of first team action and has spoken about it regularly in the press. However, he has also spoken of his hope to play in the new Real Madrid side under new coach Manuel Pellegrini.

Van der Vaart told AD Sportwereld, “Pellegrini’s previous club Villarreal wanted to buy me twice in the last few years from HSV.”

“I don’t know if it was him who wanted me or his technical director, but it makes you think.

“No one from the Real management has contacted me or my father. I think that will come in time.

“What’s happening now with buying all these players again proves how big a club Real Madrid is - the biggest in the world.

“For us, the Dutch guys, it could have radical consequences.

The multi-million pound arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo will mean that Real will look to recoup some of their outlay by selling a number of fringe players. Van der Vaart is expected to be one of those. However, he claims not to be worried, “On the one hand the uncertainty about our positions grows with each signing, but on the other hand I’m quite relaxed about it.

“I signed a contract for five years. If the club management tells me clearly I need to go, I’ll look for something else, but I want to battle.

“In the winter break, six months before the World Cup, you can always look at your circumstances

With Real looking set to launch huge bids for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, it’s highly likely they may well cut their losses on Van der Vaart to raise funds particularly after his recent outspoken comments in the press. This speculation has led to a number of Premier League clubs alerted to the disgruntled Dutchman’s situation.

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Van der Vaart began his Real career with 4 goals in his first 4 games including a goal on his debut against Numancia and a hat-trick against Sporting Gijon. However, since then the Dutch playmaker has failed to score and increasingly been relegated to substitute appearances. The €13 million summer signing has played 32 league games for the Spanish champions but only started 15 of those games. Apart from starting the two final league games of the season, his previous last full 90 minutes came in a Copa Del Rey match v Real Union in November and his last full game in La Liga was way back in September, hence his frustration. After all, in 3 seasons for Hamburg he started 72 of his 74 league appearances and scored 29 goals.

Prior to leaving Hamburg his manager Martin Jol had this to say about his star player, “He is one of the best five play-makers in Europe and he dictates the rhythm of Hamburg.” That’s high praise indeed but the 26-year-old had proven to be a huge hit both in his homeland with Ajax and in the Bundesliga with Hamburg.

The 2007/08 season was the Dutchman’s most prolific campaign in 3 seasons in Germany. He scored a total of 12 goals in 29 League appearances taking his overall League tally for Hamburg to an impressive 29 goals in 74 appearances. Not bad for a playmaking attacking midfielder. This is a similar scoring rate to the one he enjoyed with Ajax where Van der Vaart scored a total of 52 goals in 117 League appearances. This record includes the 2002/03 season when the Dutch international scored a staggering 18 goals in 21 League appearances. The diminutive playmaker has also got a decent scoring record at international level for Holland after netting 14 goals in 68 games.

The Dutch star certainly has all the attributes to be a major hit in the Premier League. He would provide Chelsea with a more than adequate replacement for summer flop Deco.

Would fit perfectly in at Arsenal in terms of quality as well as be perfect for either the wing or as 2nd striker for Liverpool. A player of this quality would also be a massive coup for non Champions League sides Spurs, Man City, Villa or Everton, though there are sure to be many suitors in for the disgruntled £8m Dutchman.

For £8m would you like your club to sign him? Let’s hear your views.

Tags: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Hamburg, Liverpool, Man City, Rafael Van der Vaart, Real Madrid, Tottenham

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