There are rumors coming out of the Netherlands today, suggesting Newcastle United have an interest in, and are aggressively pursuing Hamburg captain and Dutch International, Rafael van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart – Dutch International would be great acquisition
The 25 year-old Van der Vaart was in good form last season, captaining his side to 2nd place in the Bundesliga.
He scored 10 goals last season, and of course some top teams would be interested in the player, if he becomes officially available.
Chelsea, Juventus and Valencia are said to be keeping tabs on the player, in addition to Newcastle, since the player has so far refused to sign a new contract at his German club.
Sources in Holland however have suggested today that the Dutchman is England bound, and they are saying that Newcastle are leading the chase for the player.
We’ll not have to get too excited about this, but if Newcastle can capture this player, it would be a great signing, to say the very least.
This summer, Newcastle are not too good a proposition for the very top players, and hopefully that will be vastly improved next year by this time, but we cannot complain about the club not pursuing the top players.
Van der Vaart has played 74 times for Hamburg with 29 goals, and before that at Ajax, he played for the top Dutch club 117 times with 52 goals. He is a wonderfully gifted player.
The 5’9″ attacking midfielder was born to a Spanish mother and a Dutch father in Heemskerk, in North Holland, and has so far played 53 times for Holland and scored 12 goals.
Spanish and Dutch heritage for a footballer isn’t too bad at all, and it seems all he’s missing is a Geordie grandmother. 😀
Rafael could be playing in today’s game against Italy tonight, we’ll be watching – and dreaming.
Comments welcome.
102 comments so far
Eric
Jun 9, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Comment #81Nicki C–>
Yes it said yesterday both there, and on the tele that we had bid that, although brum said no, and wanted a bit more… Sebs agent said he had talked to some clubs (ie newcastle) and it was down to brum, and seb said himself he thought newcastle was a great team…
But what you mean it says something ells today? Where? It´s nothing about Larsson or Newcastle there, exept about the peruvian player…
haji
Jun 9, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Comment #82if vartt came in he would set the weels i motion
1=2=3=4
Anders
Jun 9, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Comment #83Nick C
I’m Swedish so i can help you…
I don’t know wich article you’re referring to, but there is one who says that newcastle have launched a £4m bid and hope to land him before sweden enter the euros. Birmingham rejected the bid.
According to fotbollskanalen.se (a swedish website) Newcastle have been speaking to Sebastians agent but Sebastian won’t comment it.
His agent says that he has spoken to a couple of clubs and that the ball is in birminghams court…
steve
Jun 9, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Comment #84afraid he’ll be off to one of the bigger teams – we just can’t offer world class players anything at the moment – especially given the fact we’ve stopped paying stupid wages
shame though, looks class again tonight
Nick C
Jun 9, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Comment #85Eric, in that Peruvian article it mentions Larrson at the beginning. Obviously it did not say very much. I would love Larrson at NUFC. Really rate him….
Nick C
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #86I tell u wot. I have never been a huge Kuyt fan but he is having a stormer tonight.
Oba
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #87He’s playing absolutely brilliant, sign him up. NOW!
😀
ronaldeano
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Comment #88We need players like VDV to augment or team and fire us back into the CL where we belong. Why are we so pessamistic? Why cant we sign players like him?
The reason is we cant offer European football next year, but , on the plus side we can offer the chance for great players to get us there next year.
If MA has ambition for our great club i hope he will at least try and get the players in to get us into Europe, and stay there. Then whoever we bring in would have no regrets about coming to NUFC, it is a fantastic club and a fantastic place to live.
Keep the faith lads 🙂
ehssi
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Comment #89Vaart have played very well today, I don’t like it!
if he plays like that every game, then we don’t have a chance 🙁
Gareth
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:38 PM
Comment #90Having just watched that I shall change “never going to happen” to “never ever going to happen”. We have absolutely no chance.
Ross
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:40 PM
Comment #91if he keeps playing like he did tonight then i’ll just have to laugh if we continue to be linked with him.
he had a blinder,holland in general looked brilliant, sneijder is unbeleivable.
briss
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:47 PM
Comment #92hes a great player and if we sign him, gomis, another quality and a couple good defenders with a few promising youngsters (which seem to be lining up nicely) we’ll be on our way
ToonKing
Jun 9, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Comment #93ok lads it was nice while it lasted lol ….back to reality.
Timbo
Jun 9, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Comment #94Well…
Lucky for us sneijder, van broncourst and kuyt played so well tonight!! their performances outclassed vdv’s so everyone will be talking about them!! only newcastle fans will be watching him carefully tonight in particular!!
Dont be so pessimistic!!
adam
Jun 9, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Comment #95this could be the toon team next season
given
beye taylor kompany riise
milner viera/digard van der vaart
crouch owen martins
olic the croation from hamburg also might sign.
subs
harper,butt,viduka,faye,turan
remember
viduka
martins
will miss the star of next sasn trough injury
In
Vincent kompany £10m
John Arne Riise £4m
Patrick Viera £4m/Didier Digrd £6m
Rafeal Van Der aar £15m
Peter Crouch £12m
Arda Turan £10m
maybe olic £4m
£61m
out
emre £6m
ameobi £4m
ramage free
carr free
diatte free
rozenhal £1m
=£11m
=£50m spent
ameritoon
Jun 9, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Comment #96VdV would be a tremendous signing but how many times have we said that recently? The kid has got a whole hell of alotta talent. That buy would be a sign of intent for MA and co. and could definitely encourage the likes of Arda to sign.
That said I don’t wanna get too worked up I believe this about as much as these Gomis rumors.
LEE
Jun 10, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Comment #97I’d like to see us sign someone, ANYONE, who is old enough to shave before the years out!
The owner wants to slash the wage bill (apparently) BUT we already have a tiny squad. If Keegan has to sell before he can buy, we are in deep shit my friends. Maybe Ashley has blown his billions on ‘black 17’ and ‘Smith’ replica shirts???
Where are the signings?
Jun 10, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Comment #98To evryone who thinks we can’t sign him- They said the same thing about Shearer and Owen did’nt they? Yet we managed to get both in their prime…
boater
Jun 10, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Comment #99Van Der Vaart would be an immense capture although unilkely perhaps… what about Afellay from PSV? The dutch are producing some of the best attacking talent in Europe again and it would be fantastic to bring one of these golden boys to the toon.
geordiegraham
Jun 10, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Comment #100oooooooooooooh hey has anybody seen van der vaart’s missus 😛 hes scored there like
TER
Jun 10, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Comment #101VdV would be immense. He played fantastic yesterday in their pasting of Italy.
wilko
Jun 11, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Comment #102saw this lad playing in Euro 2008 the other night against Italy and he would be fantastic for NUFC- that’s the type of player I would like to see helping us get to the next level