Newcastle United Transfer News: Ajax's Vurnon Anita in £7 Million Move?
23-year-old Anita plays left-back for Ajax but has also proved useful as a defensive midfielder.
Updated: Newcastle United blog NUFC Fans have exclusive quotes from the player's agent Harry Lulofs last night; Newcastle have made an offer between £5-10 million. I cannot give you the accurate figure, but Ajax have received a written offer. They are very satisfied with the guy and want to keep him. Newcastle have been watching him for a long time and really want to sign him. This is the first offer Ajax have received for Vurnon and well soon see how they react.He went on to say the offer will be discussed next week with the player;
After next week, he will be back from holiday and I will meet people at Ajax with him and his dad.And that new Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert showed interest in the player whilst at Norwich City;
The only other Premier League club to get in touch was Norwich. Paul Lambert called me to ask about him . Now he has moved to Aston Villa, so maybe they will be in touch. I dont know.Original article follows... The Daily Mail claims that Newcastle United are close to signing Ajax's Vurnon Anita for a fee of £7 million. 23-year-old Anita started his career at left-back under Martin Jol but under current boss Frank De Boer has also proved useful as a defensive midfielder and his commanding presence has helped the Amsterdam outfit win back-to-back Eredivisie titles. As United are looking for new recruits in both positions, the Dutchman looks to fit the bill. The Magpies are weak in numbers for central midfield slots with the departure of Danny Guthrie and have been looking for a left-footed full-back ever since Jose Enrique was sold to Liverpool last summer. They have been linked with continuous interest in PSV and Holland left-back Erik Pieters but the club's transfer fee and several horrific injuries the player has picked up this past year has stalled any potential move. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has watched Ajax play several times towards the latter end of the season and will no doubt have a full assessment on Anita's qualities. The player came through the Ajax youth academy and has turned out over a 100 times for the first team. He has also turned out three times for Holland, ironically as a replacement to Pieters on one occasion and has battled him for the full-back slot, but neither man made the final Euro 2012 squad (Pieters through injury, Anita through being overlooked). Anita is contracted to Ajax until 2014 and should he move to Newcastle in a £7 million move, he would be Alan Pardew's second biggest signing for the club after January's £10 million signing of Papiss Cisse. Attention Newcastle United fans Lifelong fans Matt Holmes and Peter Willis, the co-owners and founders of What Culture have launched a dedicated Newcastle United blog at www.toonarmy.co.uk. The blog will contain opinions, features, match previews, reports all in their unique and passionate voice for the like-minded die-hard Geordie. Bookmark it today.