[ehsan]

by Gerrit van Leeuwen - created on 3 May 2005

Manchester United have trained their sights on Nigel de Jong, but Ajax have insisted they will resist all offers for their talented defender this summer.
United's vast scouting network has highlighted the versatile de Jong as a player capable of flourishing at Old Trafford and they have had the 20-year-old watched on a number of occasions.
The Red Devils have also been encouraged by de Jong's failure to agree a new deal at The Amsterdam ArenA, with the player reportedly unhappy at being asked to operate in a number of different positions.
De Jong rose through the ranks as a full back, a position Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to boost, but he has been asked to operate in midfield under new boss Danny Blind.
Ajax are aware of the interest in de Jong, but are keen to rebuff any offers and extend his stay in Amsterdam.
"We won't let him go," Ajax director Arie van Eijden told Algemeen Dagblad. "Nigel de Jong still has a deal until 2006 and is an important player in the vision of Danny Blind.
"We will not quote a fee, we want to keep him as simple as that."

[Sharpey]

To be honest i cant remember him right now but ive read him several times in the gossip column as a target for big clubs i.e. Milan, madrid, bayern

Perhaps Volrath, who is a fan of dutch football, can tell us more.

[jacks990]

i jus read that he`s not the only Ajax startlet MU is interested in...Ferie is also looking to seal the deal with Daniel de Ridder...hope to get more info on these 2 guys..i`ve neva seen any of the both playing b4..

[ehsan]

Where did you heard about de ridder as there is only news about de jong not Daniel de Ridder and there is also news anywhere which state utd are intrested on Daniel de Ridder today in The Sun says that tottenham have clinches a deal for Daniel de Ridder soyou are utd is only intrested in de jong not Daniel de Ridder

[ehsan]

REDS MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL

Combative midfielder Nigel de Jong has issued a 'come-and-get-me' plea to Manchester United after admitting he is "very unhappy" at Ajax.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly sees the 20-year-old battler, who is out of contract with the Dutch giants in 2006, as the long-term successor to Red Devils skipper Roy Keane at Old Trafford.

But he is said to have angered Ajax by lodging a ?500,000 bid for de Jong after scouts watched him hit a wonder goal against Feyenoord last month.

The bid was never likely to be accepted but has made de Jong aware of United's interest - and it appears he is unwilling to extend his Ajax stay as he said: "Both the club and the old coach Ronald Koeman made promises to me which were never kept, so I'm very unhappy."

Ferguson does not have much money to play with following the ?27million acquisition of Wayne Rooney.

And he has been warned by Ajax managing director Arie van Eijden that the club "won't even put a price" on de Jong's head because they "are simply not willing to negotiate - we have to keep Nigel".

Van Eijden added: "He has a contract that runs until the end of next season and in the opinion of our coach Danny Blind, he is a vital player."

[jacks990]

Man Utd push for best kids won't end with Ajax's De Jong
tribalfootball.com - May 4, 2005

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson could ask to have Daniel De Ridder included in his bid for Ajax teammate Nigel de Jong.
Along with De Jong, Ferguson has had a scout following De Ridder since Christmas and is now aware that Ajax are prepared to sell for £2.5 million following their talks with Tottenham this week.


Ferguson, who has already secured Lyn's Nigerian youngster John Obi Mikel in recent days, is busily snapping up some of the best young talent on the continent.

"We're building a great new team," Ferguson said. "We have some of the best talent in the world and some young players who will be sure bets in this business in the future, so why would I want to retire?"

United's interest in De Jong, 20, stems from him being one of the most versatile players in Europe. The Holland player can play in defence, but his preferred position is on the right of midfield - a preference that led to him falling out this season with Ronald Koeman, the coach at the time, who played him in a variety of positions.

De Jong has one year left on his contract, but Ajax are keen to ensure that he signs a new deal. "We won't let him go. We will not quote a fee, we want to keep him, it is as simple as that," Arie van Eijden, an Ajax director, said yesterday.

Should De Jong - and possible De Ridder - arrive at Old Trafford, he would join other prodigious young talents that Ferguson has begun to assemble.

Cristiano Ronaldo is only 20 and Wayne Rooney 19, but there have been other notable arrivals, such as Gerard Pique, the defender, from Barcelona, and Giuseppe Rossi, the striker, from Parma.

FC Dallas striker Ed Johnson, 20, is also in United's sights and had trials at Old Trafford earlier this season. A pre-contract could be agreed with the USA international, who still doesn't have enough caps to qualify for a work permit.

[ehsan]

I just read this article a hr ago but can anybody tell me are both players good enough for utd as from what i have heard they are not that special that the media is thinking and they both are over hyped players but can anyone give me a clear view who wathces and follow ajax

[Sharpey]

i have seen ajax several times and i didnt know them. The names that first come to mind from ajax are Heitinga (classy player), Van der Vaart, Maxwell (very interesting player), Mitea (he would be my pick if Sneijder its not an option), Pienaar and specially the jewel of the crown, Sneijder (Cruyff said Sneijder was a young Cruyff), but never heard about those two.

[Volrath2002]

man how can u not know who Nigel de Jong and Daniel de Ridder is. Nigel de Jong has been in the first team or involved with the first team for about 3 years. He is only young like most Ajax players but is a very handy back who usualy plays on the Right for Ajax but can also play on the right of mid if called upon. He has CL experience in later stages as he was invloved in Ajax run a couple of seasons ago. I don't think he is world class yet so i don;t think United should sign him yet. Maybe in a few years when he starts to mature a bit.

As for Daniel de Ridder he is new on the first team scene. He played reguly for Ajax last season and this season. He is a Starlet and very exciting to watch but as like all Ajax players is only young and from what i seen so far of him i dont know if he would make it on the big stage. He has skill but i don't know if he has the mental power to step up his game and make it compleat. He mainly plays in the right side of mid but can play in any attacking position he is put in. He has a tenacious willingness to take on defenders as well. Also he likes to live up his off field life and is the pin up boy of Ajax at moment.

[pears12]

De jong seems to be a quite defensive mid and fits into the right side of midfield although the defensive capabilities of utd is not a real issue
as for de ridder he is a quality winger and does not have a large price tag due to the fact he playing in holland... also another player who is of the same quality and age is soaters at genk he about 23 and is a good young player so i suggest utd sign de ridder or soaters as they both star youngsters

[ehsan]

Who is soater?

[Volrath2002]

soaters is a young player who cam through the Ajax youth system the same time de Ridder did. He was sold off by Ajax to Genk at the start of the current season

[jacks990]

Are any of the players mentioned in this thread who are really good?....i really do not want to c another djemba djemba in MU....

[Volrath2002]

i think they are all very good in the Dutch leauge but none are proven in a really Big league like England, Spain, Italy or Germany

as i have said before they have CL experience but that is not the same as League

[pears12]

soaters was sold off to genk in exchange for wesley sonck, but he still a good player