According to reports in Spain, former Newcastle United flop Luuk De Jong has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Real Madrid.
This comes from La Sexta, who claim the Dutchman has been named alongside AC Milan’s Krzysztof Piatek, Serie A’s second top scorer Duvan Zapata and Italian international Andrea Belotti as possible targets for Zinedine Zidane this summer.
If I told you he’d just bagged 32 goals and 10 assists for PSV last season you could probably believe he’s being eyed up by Real Madrid, but not if you watched him during a six-month loan spell at St James’ Park.
The Dutchman made 12 appearances for the club after arriving on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach in January 2014, making next to no impact, with several dismal displays and not one goal to show for it.
It’s hard to believe given he’s since gone on to bag 112 goals and 57 assists in 200 games for PSV – a stat which makes you wonder whether this shows how poor the Eredivisie is or how difficult foreign strikers find the Premier League initially.
The fact Pardew insisted on playing him as a number ten may have had something to do with his awful spell at Newcastle, but, still, I struggle to believe he’s the striker Zidane wants to bring to the Bernabeu – especiallt given he’s nearing his 30’s and only proven in the Dutch league.
Nevertheless, here’s him in action for PSV – 5 years on from his miserable spell at St James’:
PARDEWED never played him in his right position and the same for quite a few others
George(Quote)
If i remember correctly, his debut was as a half time sub when we were 3-0 down at home to the unwashed… well played pardwho… introduce him at the right time thats a good manager!
PrinzNE1(Quote)