The Premier League is making its long-awaited return this week after the coronavirus outbreak halted the English league. We take a look at the 20 Dutchmen that could feature before the end of the season.
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Virgil van Dijk
Position: Centre-back Club: Liverpool Age: 28
The Dutch superstar of the Premier League, Van Dijk has been imperious again for Liverpool and is a big reason why they are easing to the title.
Van Dijk has made the Liverpool defence rock-solid this season, and also contributed four goals in 29 games.
The centre-back just keeps getting better and will add the Premier League trophy to his growing number of accolades.
Georginio Wijnaldum
Position: Midfielder Club: Liverpool Age: 29
The Netherlands star has had another excellent campaign in the Liverpool midfield, contributing three goals in 28 league games.
Wijnaldum has settled brilliantly into his deeper role in the Liverpool midfield and he has become a key player for Jurgen Klopp.
Wijnaldum is now in talks with Liverpool over a new long-term deal which will stop rumours of a summer departure.
Sepp van den Berg
Position: Centre-back Club: Liverpool Age: 18
After van den Berg made his breakthrough at PEC Zwolle, Liverpool swooped quickly to snap up the defender last summer.
Since, Van den Berg has made four first-team appearances in cup games. He is still awaiting his Premier League debut, though.
Jurgen Klopp recently praised the youngster, and with Liverpool closing in on the title, van den Berg should be given a chance before the end of the campaign.
Ki-Jana Hoever
Position: right-back Club: Liverpool Age: 18
Like van den Berg, Hoever is waiting for his chance to impress for Liverpool, and that could come once the club wraps up the Premier League title.
Hoever has made three cup appearances for Liverpool this season, and Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of the right-back. However, his breakthrough has been hampered by the great form of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Hoever impressed in friendlies recently and the Netherlands U18 international is said to be one of the most talented defenders in his age group. His Premier League breakthrough is surely only a matter of time.
Tahith Chong
Position: Winger Club: Manchester United Age: 20
The young Dutch winger has made three Premier League appearances so far this season and will be aiming to impress before the end of the campaign.
Chong has been frustrated by a lack of game time, but decided to sign a new deal with Manchester United. The club convinced the Netherlands U21 international that he will have a key role in the future, preventing Juventus from snapping him up.
With five substitutes now allowed for the rest of the campaign, Chong could easily make a number of appearances before the rest of the season and will be hoping to score his first Premier League goal.
Manchester United currently sits 5th in the Premier League and can still aim for a Champions League spot.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah
Position: Defender Club: Manchester United Age: 22
The versatile defender has been injured for the whole campaign, which prevented the Dutchman from going out on loan.
Fosu-Mensah is back fit again and recently signed a new one-year deal with the club to stop him from leaving on a free this summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is open to giving Fosu-Mensah a chance to prove he has a future at the club. The Dutch international will now be keen to play a part before the end of the campaign.
Steven Bergwijn
Position: Winger Club: Tottenham Hotspur Age: 22
Bergwijn couldn’t have asked for a better start to his time at Tottenham, scoring in the win over Manchester City on his debut.
However, Bergwijn joined Tottenham in January with fitness issues, and the former PSV Eindhoven star succumb to injury after his fifth Premier League appearance. He was expected to miss the rest of the season, but Bergwijn is fit again and can play the rest of the campaign.
The pacey forward will now be looking to build on his strong start in England and help Tottenham rise from their current position of 8th.
Michel Vorm
Position: Goalkeeper Club: Tottenham Hotspur Age: 36
After spending six years at the club, Michel Vorm is coming into the final few months of his time with Tottenham Hotspur.
The Dutchman has been second and third choice for the club ever since signing, and has only made 48 appearances in six years, mainly in cup competitions.
Vorm will not feature in the Premier League, unless for an injury crisis at Tottenham and will depart in the summer, possibly back to the Eredivisie.
Tim Krul
Position: Goalkeeper Club: Norwich City Age: 32
The experienced Dutch goalkeeper has been unable to prevent Norwich City from being rock bottom of the Premier League and it’s almost certain that they will be relegated.
Krul has made some fantastic saves during the season, including a number of penalties. However, Norwich City will have to claw back a six point gap to avoid dropping back to the Championship.
In 27 games, Krul has kept five clean sheets and has been linked with a return to the Netherlands squad.
Daryl Janmaat
Position: Right-back Club: Watford Age: 30
It has been a frustrating campaign for the former Feyenoord and Newcastle United star, who has missed most of the campaign with a knee injury.
Before the injury, Janmaat was a regular in the starting line-up and was playing well. He will now be aiming to regain his fitness and contribute as Watford look to battle relegation.
The club is 17th and only above the drop zone on goal difference.
Nathan Ake
Position: Centre-back Club: Bournemouth Age: 25
Bournemouth’s key man and leader, Nathan Ake has had a frustrating campaign with the club currently sitting 18th and they are considered one of the favourites to go down.
Ake’s performances have been strong but he missed five games earlier in the campaign through injury, and the club only managed one win in that time.
Ake will be aiming to keep fit and lead the defence in the final nine games. The Dutch international could then make a transfer with several big English clubs constantly linked with the former Chelsea youngster.
Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveled
Position: Winger Club: Bournemouth Age: 23
It’s been a frustrating campaign for Danjuma, who made his Netherlands debut last season while playing for Club Brugge. Since moving to England, the winger has been plagued by injuries.
So far, the 23-year-old has only made nine appearances in the Premier League, and is yet to contribute a goal or assist.
Danjuma is fit again and will now be looking to make a big impact before the end of the season. The tricky forward will be needed as Bournemouth look to avoid relegation.
Anwar El Ghazi
Position: Winger Club: Aston Villa Age: 25
The former Ajax winger has been one of the star men for Aston Villa this season, scoring four goals and adding four assists in 25 league games.
El Ghazi has found some of the form that made him a star at Ajax, but that hasn’t stopped Aston Villa from being in a relegation battle.
The club currently sits 19th and two points from safety. El Ghazi will be hoping to help the club maintain their top flight status.
Richairo Zivkovic
Position: Striker Club: Sheffield United Age: 23
A strange January transfer saw Sheffield United bring in the former Ajax and Groningen striker on loan from China.
Zivkovic now has a big chance to prove himself on the highest level and earn a permanent move to the club. The striker is yet to make an appearance yet, but his pace and strength could be an asset for the club going forward as they look to seal an unlikely place in Europe. Zivkovic scored in a friendly match recently and with more substitutes allowed during games, he should get a chance.
Sheffield United currently sits 7th in the league, which could be good enough for a Europa League spot.
Patrick van Aanholt
Position: Left-back Club: Crystal Palace Age: 29
After battling Katie Hopkins on Twitter, Van Aanholt will now turn his attentions back to football.
The left-back was linked with a move to PSV in January, but remained at Crystal Palace, where he has made 22 appearances this season, scoring three goals.
Van Aanholt is a key player for the club with his attacking abilities, and will be looking to help them break into the top ten. Crystal Palace currently sits 11th and comfortable on 39 points.
It remains to be seen whether Van Aanholt will look to depart the club this summer, with PSV’s finances hit.
Jairo Riedewald
Position: Defender/Midfielder Club: Crystal Palace Age: 23
Since joining Crystal Palace from Ajax in 2017, Riedewald has been frustrated by a lack of game time.
The versatile defender, who can also play in midfield, once again started this campaign outside of the line-up, but since December, Riedewald has made 10 appearances. It now appears he is a big part of the club’s plans.
Riedewald will be hoping to remain in Roy Hodgson’s plans and make as many appearances before the end of the season as he can.
Davy Propper
Position: Midfielder Club: Brighton Age: 28
Propper is currently in his third season with Brighton and has made 26 appearances during the campaign, scoring once.
The Dutch international midfielder is key for Brighton and will be aiming to help the club maintain their top-flight status. They currently sit 15th and only two points above the drop zone.
Propper still has a contract with Brighton until 2023, but he could be looking elsewhere should the club go down. Propper is a key player in Ronald Koeman’s squad and won’t want to miss out on the Euro’s next year.
Ian Maatsen
Position: Versatile defender Club: Chelsea Age: 18
Maatsen is one young Dutchman that could make his Premier League debut before the end of the season.
The left-back, who can also play across the defence, made his first-team debut earlier in the season and has also featured on the bench.
Frank Lampard likes to give youth a chance and Maatsen will be hoping to make his Premier League debut in the coming weeks as Chelsea look to consolidate their position in 4th and seal a Champions League spot.
Maatsen’s Dutch teammate Marco van Ginkel is not eligible to play before the end of the campaign. He is returning to fitness but is not in the club’s registered squad.
Erik Pieters
Position: Left-back Club: Burnley Age: 31
The 31-year-old swapped Stoke City for Burnley in the summer, and started the season as starting left-back. However, after 15 appearances, Pieters has been rooted to the bench, and he didn’t feature in the club’s 12 games before the corona virus outbreak.
Burnley are comfortably sitting 10th in the league and are aiming for a top half finish. Pieters will be aiming to fight his way back into the starting eleven and if not a summer transfer will come into focus.
Maarten Stekelenburg
Position: Goalkeeper Club: Everton Age: 37
The veteran goalkeeper will leave Everton after this season and is aiming for a move back to the Eredivisie.
In the meantime, he will finish the campaign with Everton, but is unlikely to see any game time, with Stekelenburg third choice goalkeeper at the club.
Everton currently sits 12th in the Premier League, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be aiming for a late fight to finish in the top 10 at least.
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Great read.
Makes my question about Ajax and English players ever more intriguing.
Mike