Klaas Jan Huntelaar: Manchester United & Spurs Target in Shock Marseille Talks
Marseille are reportedly leading the chase for the services of Klaas Jan Huntelaar according to press reports in Spain, France and Holland. The player is reported to have recently travelled to the South of France to discuss a move. Bundesliga side Stuttgart are also in negotiations. This would be a very surprising move considering the size of interested clubs in England who are also tracking the star.
Huntelaar’s agent Arnold Oosterveer has confirmed interest in the prolific Dutchman when he told Voetbal International, “Klaas-Jan is back in Madrid and he wants to know what his situation at Real is now.”
“There are a lot of rumours around and there is a lot of interest in him.
“But we also have to wait for the player himself to make a decision.”
Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may have only joined Real Madrid back in January but the club are ready to cut their losses after their recent massive spending spree. A poor end to the Spanish season seems to have heralded the end of the Dutchman’s short stint in Madrid with Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly leading the queue of Premier League admirers.
The signing of one of the most prolific strikers in Europe over the past few seasons was expected to kick-start Real’s season as a direct replacement for injured compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, the 25-year-old who joined for an initial £17m has since struggled for games and was even not included in the Champions League squad and failed to score in his last 9 league appearances.
This has led to increased speculation that a number of Premier League clubs may well return with bids in the summer with Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City all showing an interest in the past. The majority of the Premier League big clubs are looking to add to their firepower and with Real likely to cut their losses on their January signing, surely Huntelaar would be well worth a gamble.
Since moving to the Bernabeu, Huntelaar has made 20 League appearances (13 starts) and scored 8 times. Despite this record he has failed to convince the club’s hierarchy that he is the man to lead the Spanish giants assault on silverware next season. He failed to score in his first 6 league appearances for the club and despite a purple patch of 8 goals in 6 league games from mid-February to mid-March, he has been unable to break up the preferred forward line of Raul and Gonzalo Higuain. He has since failed to score in 9 league matches and was red carded in his last appearance against Osasuna.
Since joining Real, Huntelaar has played a full 90 minutes just 6 times in La Liga and recent comments in the Dutch press suggest he is ready to depart alongside fellow countrymen Royston Drenthe, Wesney Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart.
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A quick glance at his goals per game ratio for Ajax surely singles out the supposed Real flop as worth a gamble. After all, in the 2007/08 season alone he scored 33 League goals in 34 matches and only one of those goals was from the penalty spot. Once again this figure topped the Dutch scoring charts, a staggering 12 goals more than his nearest rival. Last season he scored 6 goals in 10 League games for Ajax before his big money move.
After joining Ajax midway through the 2005/06 season the 25-year-old Drempt-born hitman scored a staggering 76 goals in 92 League games. This Roy of the Rovers style scoring shouldn’t have been unexpected given the players striking tally at Heerenveen prior to moving to Amsterdam. In just a season and a half Huntelaar scored 34 goals in just 46 League matches which prompted Ajax to quickly pounce. His career League record now reads 144 goals in 203 League appearances (185 starts), now if that type of form isn’t worth a punt then I don’t know what is!
The young Dutch sensation has banished fears that he couldn’t perform on the international stage too after continuing his scoring form for the Oranje netting 13 goals in just 23 games despite competing with the likes of Van Nistelrooy and Robin Van Persie for a starting berth. He also scored in 3 of his last 5 international appearances against Tunisia, Scotland and Macedonia. Huntelaar is also something of a lucky charm for Holland as they’ve won 20, drawn 2 and lost only one of the matches he’s featured in.
When you’ve topped the Dutch scoring charts in 2 of your last 3 seasons, won numerous player of the year awards, finished top scorer in the world in 2005/06 as well as rewriting the record books as all-time highest U21 scorer in Dutch history, you’d expect to get more playing time than Huntelaar received in Madrid, so don’t be surprised if the English Premier League big guns come calling this summer as Real look to rebuild after a trophy less season.
Manchester United have lost Carlos Tevez but recruited Michael Owen. However, Sir Alex is reportedly still looking to add to his squad. Rafa Benitez is on the lookout for new strikers to aid Fernando Torres’ workload. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have finally run out of patience with Emmanuel Adebayor and could make a big profit by bringing in the cut-price Dutchman. Man City tried and failed to tempt Huntelaar previously but after failing to land a regular starting berth with one of the biggest clubs in the world may find a starting spot at Eastlands much more desirable now.
Harry Redknapp is also expected to wheel and deal with Darren Bent plus perhaps Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane surplus to requirements, a move for the Real striker would be a huge sign of ambition for Tottenham. Surely if the player does leave, he is more likely to come to England than the inferior French and German leagues.
Will the Premier League finally get to see this Klaas act in action or will one of the most prolific strikers in the last few years end up in France? We will soon find out!
Do you think your club should sign the Dutchman this summer or is he vastly overrated? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Arsenal, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Liverpool, Manchester United, Marseille, Real Madrid, Tottenham
July 9th, 2009 at 16:02
If this guy goes to France or Germany ahead of a move to Prem League it shows this guy does not feel can cope with speed of English game or is just after money as these countries have lower tax regimes than UK. If United are interested if he was serious of playing at highest level would choose old trafford over others if looking for a challenge he would consider Spurs
July 9th, 2009 at 16:13
Hi, just a quick reply for Irish Spur, it’s definitely not intersting to come and play in france in regards to taxes !!! We kill our people with taxes, soccer players included, and the base salaries are much lower than in U.K, we can’t cope with Russian/Emiraties money and our clubs cannot have debts…So no, trust me, when soccer players come and play in france it’s not for money ^^ And if you take a good look, you’ll see that none actually come to France (though that’s not only because of money reasons, the lack of challenge is also one). I still hope Huntelaar we come to Marseille, but i really doubt he will, it would be more interesting for him to say in Liga or join the premier league.
July 9th, 2009 at 16:20
Real just accepted the 20 millions offer from Stuttgart.
July 9th, 2009 at 18:05
buy him