Ajax hotshot Siem De Jong looked like one of the best strikers in Europe when he bagged two goals at the Etihad Stadium to put one of many nails in the coffin of Manchester City's Champions League campaign. But an entirely different player appeared to turn up for the Dutch side's friendly against Vasco Da [.
Manchester United have apparently agreed to sign Alexander Büttner today from Dutch side
Vitesse Arnhem, with a medical scheduled to take place tomorrow. You may recognise the name because
he was in the news last month after agreeing to join Southampton. However, a third party ownership
issue stopped the transfer from taking place.
Following an extensive search for homegrown talent, Australian A-League side Adelaide UtdÂ
announced last week that they were handing trials to two new overseas prospects. The first was
Portuguese striker Fabio Ferreira, who made a few appearances for Chelsea's second string in
2008/09.
The second was a promising 25-year-old American named Dexter Rosales, whose resume includes
Ajax, Valencia, River Plate, Club Atletico Junior and the US at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23
levels.
Tottenham Hotspur have signed central defender Jan Vertonghen after agreeing a fee with
Ajax.
The Belgium international will undergo a medical with a view to becoming Andre Villas-Boas's
second signing after Gylfi Sigurdsson.
"We're delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Ajax for the transfer of Jan
Vertonghen, subject to a medical," a Tottenham statement read.
Liverpool Football Club has completed the signing of Oussama Assaidi from Dutch side SC
Heerenveen.
The 24-year-old winger passed a medical at Melwood before signing a long-term deal with the
club.
Assaidi, who has represented Morocco 22 times, told Liverpoolfc.com: "I'm very happy to play for
this big club.
Sami Hyypia was at Liverpool Football Club for a fantastic 10 years. As Houllier's signing in 1999,
I grew up with the Finnish defender commanding the Liverpool back four. From a relatively unknown
element brought into the Liverpool side he flourished into a fan favourite and a legend in his own
right.
It would appear that Brendan Rodgers is Liverpool's man after all.Â
According to reports out of England, the young Swansea City coach will become Kenny Dalglish's
replacement in the Liverpool coaches box less than two weeks after reportedly turning down an
interview request from the club.
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez admits he is dreaming of a switch to Spain.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Reds in a £23million deal from Dutch side Ajax in January 2011,
says he would like to test himself in La Liga at some point of his career.
Uruguay international Suarez believes it is one of the top three domestic leagues, alongside the
Premier League and Serie A, in world football.
Liverpool's Summer 2012 Transfer Targets - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Domestically, Liverpool have had a strange season. Their league form has been nothing short of
terrible, however, their performances in the cups have been extremely impressive.
Next season Dalglish (providing he remains in charge) will no doubt look to improve the core of
the Liverpool team, allowing them to challenge for a top four position.
According to reports, The Reds have agreed an £8 million deal to sign Swedish midfielder Rasmus
Elm from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
The 24-year-old AZ Alkmaar midfielder who will represent Sweden at Euro 2012 has scored 10 goals
in his last 17 games for the Eredivisie club this season It is reported that Elm will move to
Anfield on a five-year contract worth a £40,000 a week.
Liverpool's former director of football Damien Comolli may have one last parting gift for the club
after it was reported that he sent he club's chief scout to Holland to watch midfielder Rasmus
Elm.
Comolli was in charge of helping identify potential signings and it seems he was keen to try and
convince Liverpool to move for the AZ Alkmaar midfielder just days before he was sacked.
Liverpool forward Nathan Eccleston could soon be presented with the option of playing his club
football in Holland after it emerged that PSV Eindhoven were interested in the youngster.
According to Sky Sports, the 21-year-old has emerged as a genuine target for the Dutch giants,
despite making just two Premier League appearances for Liverpool.
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt could be returning to Holland to join former club Feyenoord after being
linked with a summer exit.
The Holland international has fallen down the pecking order under manager Kenny Dalglish as his
seen his place on the right hand side go to summer arrival Jordan Henderson.
Manchester United have agreed to a transfer for Arsenal's Robin van Persie for around 22 million
pounds (around 34 million US dollars). Van Persie had been linked with United, Manchester City, and
Juventus.
Arsenal released the following statement about the deal.
Arsenal Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for the transfer of Robin van
Persie to Manchester United.
There have been stories of Marco Pappa joining Dutch side SC Heerenveen. There have been stories
of Marco Pappa joining EPL club Wigan in the winter. It turns out the full story is a mix of the
two. Pappa will join SC Heerenveen at the conclusion of the 2012 MLS Regular Season.
The Dutch league should suit Pappa better than the EPL so this is a very good move.
The chairman of German side Hamburg has confirmed that he is interested in opening talks with
out-of-favour Liverpool attacker Dirk Kuyt.
Kuyt has been heavily linked with a move away from Anfield after finding his first team
opportunities limited this season, with rumours swirling that a number of European clubs are
considering moves for him.
In a retro throwback to English football's darker days, Blackburn Rovers' fans have apparently
been rioting during their club's tour of the Netherlands, although it seems as though the host fans
have been just as much to blame.
Rovers were meant to be played Dutch side NEC Nijmegan on Sunday afternoon, but the game was
called off by the police due to the apparent threat of more violence.
Daniel Agger skippered Denmark to an unexpected victory in their Group B opener against one of the
tournament's favourites Netherlands on Saturday night.
The Dutch side boasted an attacking line-up that featured some of the most talented players in
European football, like Arsenal's Robin van Persie, Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder and Bayern
Munich's Arjen Robben.
Highlights (if that's the right word) from today's 0-0 with Den Haag at the Kyocera Stadium in the
Hague. It was something of a lacklustre performance from the Magpies against a Dutch side who were
about the equivalent of a middle ranking Championship side over here. It was once again a return to
Pardew's "back [.
There is a report in Holland that Newcastle will play Dutch side ADO Den Haag on Saturday, 4th
August at the Kyocera Stadium. Newcastle have only announced four pre-season games so far, and weÂ
would expect them to announce their full schedule of  pre-season games very shortly, and maybe
before the end of this week.
News today that Dutch side FC Twente want as much as £5M for their center-back Douglas. Douglas
Newcastle may be priced out of this player The Brazilian came out yesterday and said there was a
bigger club than Newcastle after him, which seemed to put some of our readers off him because
that's [.
Louis van Gaal took the 'Oranje oath' today and in doing so,
returned to his unenviable position as Dutch national coach after a decade. Sure, The
Netherlands are an emotionally-stricken side at the moment, but you could almost say the
same for Italy and Portugal after what happened to them
at Euro 2012.
Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk is bitterly disappointed after his side's 2-1 loss to
Portugal yesterday evening confirmed their elimination from Euro 2012.
While the head coach took accountability for a highly fancied Dutch side's three-defeat showing
in the group stage, he also made it clear that the World Cup runners-up were beaten in all their
matches due to below-par performances from main stars.
Well, that's Bert van Marwijk out of a job then. Ten early minutes of masterful control
culminated in a fantastic Rafael van der Vaart curler from the edge of the area to put Holland
within one goal of the winning margin required to stand a chance of making it out of Group B alive,
but a Dutch side top-heavy with at least one too many squabbling, diva-ish malcontents soon
reverted to type gradually dissolving into a fine mist while allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to step
into the breach, get his arse in gear and finally put in a shift befitting his imperious domestic
season.
The Dutch have been the poorest shooting team in the Euros averaging almost 14 attempts off
target per match. They managed to beat Russia and Aleksandr Kherzakov to second best by about 3
attempts. Against Denmark, the Dutch sprayed the ball all over the place like drunks taking a
wiz.
Most of this scoring futility has been the result of leaving the ball at the feet of Arjen
Robben and Robin Van Persie.
Ruthless Germany looking ominous in early Euro 2012 - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Wednesday night served up two exciting and enthralling Euro 2012 fixtures, with the ‘group of
death' starting to take shape. Portugal made it hard for themselves in beating Denmark but got
there with a late goal, whilst early favourites Germany continued their winning streak by all-but
damning Netherlands to a competition exit.
Euro 2012 News: Spain v Italy, The Irish have Long-Cox and Denmark defy Euro 2012 odds -
originally posted on Soccerlens.com
After two close games in the group of death, Sunday sees holders and world champions Spain start
their campaign, with a troubled Italy side first up for Vicente del Bosque's men (get the best bets
on Spain v Italy here).
The Chicago Fire announced on Thursday that midfielder Marco Pappa will be transferred to Dutch
side SC Heerenveen immediately as opposed to at the end of the season.
The idea that a European club would essentially wait half a season to get a player seemed a bit
farfetched at the time. We may never know if this was the plan all along or if Heerenveen made a
last-minute offer that the Men in Red couldn't turn down.
Dynamo Kiev defeated Feyenoord Rotterdam and BATE Borisov blanked Debrecen in UEFA Champions
League qualifying on August 7, 2012.
Feyenoord Rotterdam 0-1 Dynamo Kiev
Dynamo scored a very late stoppage time to goal to cap off a 3-1Â aggregate victory over the
Dutch side. Dynamo have experience in this competition and will likely be favored to make it to the
group stage.
Founded: 1913 Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion (national stadium), capacity 25,572 Colours: They played in green for their first year until Norwegian State Railways
sold them their blue and red kit cheaply. Honours: Norwegian Premier League 5 (1965, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2005).
TORONTO -- Julian and Jonathan de Guzman are polarizing figures -– two of
Canada's most gifted players who continue to pull Canadian supporters in opposite directions.
Following CONCACAF's second round of World Cup qualifying, Julian acknowledged that his brother,
Jonathan, who is currently under contract with Spanish side Villarreal, was looking to take steps
to become eligible for selection by head coach Stephen Hart and the Canadian national team.
