The transfer window in the Netherlands opens on New Year’s Day and all clubs will be looking to make changes to their squads.

  • By Michael Statham
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At the top of the table, Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV may be looking to fine tune their squads ready for a final push for the title.

It’s not expected that Feyenoord will be busy, but the loss of Karim El Ahmadi due to the African Cup of Nations could be important given his huge improvement and influence in midfield this season. A wild rumour involved the return of Jordy Clasie from Southampton.

bazoer-aja-gFor Ajax, they are mainly hoping to let go of some of their unwanted squad members. Manager Peter Bosz has left some players out in the cold since arriving in the summer. For instance, Nemanja Gudelj is interesting a whole host of clubs including Sevilla and Southampton and Richedly Bazoer is anticipating a move to German side Wolfsburg.

However, Bosz has not ruled out new arrivals this January, since Micthell Dijks is the only recognised left-back at the club and there may be a lack of competition for Amin Younes on the left-wing. There have been rumours of an unnamed Eredivisie club bidding €8million for Fenerbache forward Jeremain Lens.

vn ginkel psvPSV have ground to make up on leaders Feyenoord, and may be plotting to do so with the signing of Ludogorets’s Dutch winger Virgil Misidjan. He may be a potential replacement for the outgoing Luciano Narsingh, who has been interesting Premier League team Swansea City. Further departures from the club could be squad members Florian Josefzoon and Simon Poulsen.

The current champions will also not rule out a return to the club for Marco van Ginkel, who has regained fitness with Chelsea and could possibly be loaned out to PSV in similar fashion to last season.

 

Sitting just below the top three, the main action may come in the form of teams clinging on to their best players through the transfer window.

Fourth-placed Heerenveen’s main concern in this window will be the retainment of key player Sam Larsson. In an interview, Larsson stated that he didn’t know what was going to happen next month, but says that if he doesn’t leave this winter it is his desire to move on in the summer.

manu-brightMeanwhile, Twente may face a battle to hold on to on-loan striker Enes Ünal, as Turkish giants Galatasaray are casting a keen eye. Utrecht, as always, have clubs interested in forwards Sébastien Haller and Nacer Barazite.

What may interest the teams in this part of the table is the availability of former Feyenoord forward Elvis Manu. He can leave Championship club Brighton for free, and has voiced his desire to return to the Eredivisie.

On Vitesse’s Christmas list may be a new manager. Henk Fraser has become unpopular in Arnhem following a disappointing start to the campaign. Leonid Slutsky, who recently left Russian club CSKA Moscow, is rumoured to be a potential replacement for Fraser.

 

Towards the bottom of the Eredivisie, clubs will be looking to spend wisely in order to gain a player or two who could change their current fortunes.

For example, after such a promising start to the season, ADO Den Haag have suffered a dismal run of results leading up to Christmas. Zeljko Petrovic says the club are “busy with top teams from the Jupiler League” as they look for new acquisitions. Perhaps the club will raid Jong Ajax and Jong PSV to gain some promising young stars on loan for the rest of the campaign.

hahn pecExcelsior have sealed a deal with Feyenoord for the loan deal of Warner Hahn. The Feyenoord goalkeeper has recently returned to fitness after a long term injury, but before then was tipped to become the Rotterdammers’ future number one. Go Ahead Eagles were also keen on the ‘keeper, but will now have to look elsewhere in their own bid to avoid relegation.

One club’s fans who will be disappointed this Christmas are NEC. Like a few clubs at this end of the table, money is tight, and director Bart van Ingen stated that after recently becoming a category two club again, they have no interest in spending this winter as they look to keep finances tight.

PEC Zwolle are unexpectedly relegation contenders this season, and manager Ron Jans has admitted he may have to dip into the market for a player or two, but wants to also confide in his current squad to get them out of trouble. “There is still growth and talent in this team. But I’m finding that the progressions is still not there.”

Roda JC opened their pockets last January in order to escape relegation. Manager Yannis Anastasiou has stated that may not happen again like last year, and spoke somewhat against his desire when questioned on his transfer ambitions next month. When pressed on the issue of his side’s lack of goals this season, he said, “if it’s financially possible, we’ll do it for certain positions. A striker for example.”




Michael Statham (802 Posts)

Writer/interviewer/YouTuber for Football-Oranje. Massive Dutch football fan from the UK. Follow me @EredivisieMike & subscribe to Football-Oranje on YouTube.