PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel has warned clubs interested in signing him they will have to wait until the summer to try and secure his signature.
Tottenham are reported to be very keen on signing the Dutchman and are even thought to have travelled to Holland to hold talks with the player.
The 26-year-old seems almost certain to leave PSV at the end of the season as he has just 18 months to run on his current deal and they would rather cash-in on him in the summer than possibly lose him for nothing when his contract expires.
The Dutch international, who has seen injury ruin chances of a move before, is now willing to put off all talk over his future until after Euro 2004.
"My chances of a move to a big club have been hit by injury three years in a row," said van Bommel.
"This time I can wait until after the European Championships when a lot of clubs will do business."
Tottenham could face a fight for van Bommel with a number of top clubs across Europe interested in the powerhouse midfielder.
PSV Eindhoven are fuming over teenage sensation Arjen Robben's visit to Old Trafford last week. The club chairman lashed out at Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for never informing him of the trip designed to woo the 19-year old Dutch international.
"We are unhappy that we didn't know one of our players was visiting another club," PSV chair Harry van Raaij told the Daily Telegraph. "There was absolutely no contact from any delegate of United and we did not know about the visit."
BAD RELATIONS WITH FERGUSON
PSV have done business in the past with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, trading Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy, but Van Raaij was upset about being left in the dark about Robben's visit in the company of his parents and girlfriend.
"I have had good relations with United over Van Nistelrooy and Stam but bad relations with Ferguson. I recognize exactly the same actions that he has taken when he approached Stam and Van Nistelrooy. It's his way of doing business but it's not my way."
"In the meantime, I have spoken to United. They were a little bit embarrassed and said that the initiative was taken by the parents of Robben. That's what they told me, anyway," Raiij added.
PRECENDENTS
Sir Alex has clashed before over transfer dealings.
Sunderland accused him of underhanded manoeuvres when he courted David Bellion, Ferguson clashed last summer with Paris Saint-Germain over the abortive attempt to sign Ronaldinho before the Brazilian moved to Barcelona and in his autobiography, Stam claimed that he had been "tapped up" by United.
Talks with Man U are nonetheless still on, with more contacts expected this week.
Robben, voted Dutch Young Player of the Year, still has 3 1/2 years left on his contract with PSV.
Manchester United transfer target Arjen Robben looks likely to stay with PSV Eindhoven until the summer. The 19-year-old Dutch international is on Manchester United's 'wanted' list, but wants to see out the season with his current club.
The player's father and agent Hans Robben said: "Arjen is very interested in joining Manchester United, but I don't think it will happen in January because Arjen is definite he wants to play this season for PSV."
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed the teenager is in his sights and wants to seal the deal.
Ferguson said: "We are interested in him - nothing's been finalised, but we are hoping to do business with PSV."
Suggestions the player may sign for United during the January transfer window, but then be loaned back to PSV for the remainder of the season were rubbished by his father.
"It was not discussed at any point," he said.
Robben would be ineligible for the Champions League knockout stages having already appeared in the competition for PSV this season.
Én szívem szerint még nyáron se adnám el, de ha már mindenképpen megy, legalább 10 millió fontot kéne kapni érte!
United poised for Robben
Saturday, 03 January 2004
Manchester United look firm-favourites to sign Arjen Robben - after the PSV Eindhoven forward visited the English champions' Carrington training complex on Friday.
Robben took advantage of the winter break in Holland to fly to England and have talks with United, with a view to joining the Premiership club.
The player's father recently insisted that there had been no concrete offer from United, but it appears that Sir Alex Ferguson has stepped up the chase for the 19-year-old.
Ferguson has hinted that another striker is his main transfer priority, although Robben would not be available for UEFA Champions League games having played in the competition for his Dutch club.
PSV have already confirmed that a top European club are in for their young star, who was the Dutch Young Player of the Year last season.
Meanwhile, Red Devils starlet Cristiano Ronaldo has been allowed to fly back to Portugal for a holiday.
"We were always going to give him a holiday," said Ferguson.
Robben talking with PSV
Wednesday, 31 December 2003
Arjen Robben's father has revealed that his son is ready to commit his future to PSV Eindhoven.
Reports have linked the forward with a move to Manchester United, and PSV president Harry van Raaij fuelled the fire by suggesting Robben was close to the exit door.
Van Raaij was speaking after earlier talks failed to bear fruit but the 19-year-old's father has now claimed they are ready to return to the negotiating table.
Hans Robben was also at pains to stress that a move to The Red Devils is unlikely.
"There is nothing concrete going on between Manchester United and us," Robben senior told Dagblad van het Noorden.
"It's quite the contrary: we are speaking to PSV to see if we can get a better deal in Eindhoven than Arjen has at the moment.
"If PSV are willing to invest in new and experienced players, Arjen wants to think about a longer stay in Eindhoven."
The Dutch league is not lucrative enough for top clubs to keep all their best players on long term deals but their policy has generally been to sell just one per season.
Star striker Mateja Kezman is one of the most sought-after players in Europe and his sale from the Philips Stadion would lessen the need to cash in on Robben.
BOLDOG ÚJ ÉVET, BAJONKI AZANYAT, KUPAGYŐZELMET, UEFA-KUPA GYŐZELMET KAVÁNOK MINDEN PSV-DRUKKERNEK!!!
By Gerrit van Leeuwen
Manchester United are believed to be stepping up their interest in PSV Eindhoven teenager Arjen Robben.
Sources in Holland sugget that United are leading the chase for the highly-rated 19-year-old and have already held initial discussions about a move.
PSV have previously confirmed they have received enquiries from an unnamed club and it is believed that United were the mystery outfit in question.
Dutch daily De Telegraaf suggests that Robben could travel to England this weekend for further talks and to take in United's FA Cup clash with Aston Villa.
The Dutch Young Player of the Year has attracted the interest of a host of top clubs and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to secure a deal for the skilful winger.
Reports suggest that United are close to capturing Robben on a five-year deal with the option to loan him back to PSV for one season.
PSV are resigned to losing Robben and they will not be able to resist a big-money offer from United.
Any move looks unlikely during the January transfer window as Robben is ineligible for Europe having played in the UEFA Champions League this season for PSV, but United could be looking to secure an agreement with the player now to ward off interest from rival clubs.
Ajax and PSV lead the way
Friday, 26 December 2003
The Netherlands' traditional big three, AFC Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven, may have been relieved to welcome the winter break.
Mixed form
Ajax and PSV may be duelling for the title, but neither managed a goal in their final matches prior to the shutdown, which runs until 21 January. Moreover, only one Ereviside team remain in Europe, in stark contrast to recent distinguished performances.
Ajax stumble
Deposed as champions last season by PSV, Ajax currently lead the way. But whereas they began the season at a rate of knots, in the last month they have crashed out of the UEFA Champions League, finishing bottom of their group, departed the Dutch Cup at home to NAC Breda and ended the year with a 2-0 defeat by FC Twente. That followed a run where they had picked up 25 points from nine fixtures, but they are now level with PSV, albeit with a game in hand.
Summer changes
The summer losses of Cristian Chivu, Andy van der Meyde and Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' have weighed heavy, despite the additions of Wesley Sonck, Zdenek Grygera, Tom Soetaers and Julien Escudé. Reaching the Champions League quarter-finals was consolation for Ajax's failure to retain the title last season. This time, only the league crown will do for Ronald Koeman's side, but PSV are in no mood to surrender that honour.
Free-scoring run
Guus Hiddink's team were tipped to retain the championship having kept their squad together this summer. But despite Mateja Kezman's continued prolific form - 15 league goals and counting - they have found themselves trailing Ajax, despite being unbeaten away from home. However, prior to ending the year with a 0-0 draw at SBV Vitesse, they had embarked on a run of four straight league wins, scoring 17 goals, the highlight a 7-0 defeat of FC Volendam, when Kezman scored four times.
UEFA Cup chance
They are also the only Dutch side left in Europe, earning a UEFA Cup third-round tie against AC Perugia as a consolation for being pipped by AS Monaco and RC Deportivo La Coruńa in the Champions League. The return of Marc van Bommel from the hernia problem he suffered in early November will also be a boost, and they remain in the Dutch Cup.
New-look Feyenoord
Feyenoord, though, are facing their first finish outside the top three since 1997/98. They lie fourth, four points behind AZ Alkmaar, after a summer overhaul that saw Paul Bosvelt, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Bonaventura Kalou and Brett Emerton depart and Dirk Kuijt, Danko Lazovic, Peter van den Berg, Hossam Ghaly, Jean Carlos Dondé and Alfred Schreuder arrive.
Alkmaar impress
With only two Champions League slots, Feynoord already seem set to have to settle for another UEFA Cup campaign unless they can make up the nine-point gap on the top two. A more realistic challenge could come from Alkmaar, who sit five points off the top and are impressing under former Ajax coach Co Adriaanse. They boast prolific strikers in Ali Elkhattabi and Kenneth Perez, who have scored 12 and eight goals respectively.
European challenge
Feyenoord could even struggle for a UEFA Cup place as Willem II, SC Heerenveen, FC Utrecht and Twente are all eyeing a top-five finish. It is Twente whom Bert van Maarwijk's men face in the Dutch Cup quarter-finals in February. Holders Utrecht are also still involved, and were drawn at home to second division Heracles Almelo.
Relegation dogfight
Lower down the table, SBV Vitesse's financial troubles are beginning to tell on the pitch, and they face a relegation dogfight with newly promoted FC Volendam, ADO Den Haag and bottom club FC Zwolle.
Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam, Excelsior--Rotterdam
PSV, FC Eindhoven--Eindhoven
Ajax--Amszterdam
Hogy lehet az, hogy Amszterdamban a két profi osztály közül csak az Ajax az egyedüli csapat!
By Gerrit van Leeuwen
PSV Eindhoven have told Wilfred Bouma that they want to open talks over a contract extension.
The 25-year-old defender's contract runs out next summer but Bouma is in such fine form that he has played team-mate Kevin Hofland out of the Dutch national team in recent matches.
"I think I can grow further here," opined the stopper in De Telegraaf. "Therefore I will be open to a good offer.
"I am a boy from the youth academy and that has a good effect on players.
"For the financial part, it's important for me to know how the team will look in the future."