Rafael Van der Vaart

MUTU

Kaiser wants Van der Vaart
Franz Beckenbauer has admitted that Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart "is the one" that Bayern Munich want to sign in the summer.

The Dutch international has become the Bavarian outfit's prime transfer target as Bayern continue to attempt to fill the void left by Michael Ballack's departure to Chelsea.

Der Kaiser revealed that the Bundesliga champions are eager to sign the former Ajax star.

"He would be the one. He would be outstanding for us. But I do not think Hamburg will let him go," said the German legend.

The 24-year-old was handed the captain's armband for Hamburg at the start of the season, but remains something of an enigma due to his unpredictable form.

Munich have for a long time had the monopoly on the Bundesliga transfer market and should have the financial muscle to prise Van der Vaart away from their league rivals.

Sam

Van Der Vaart would be an excellent buy I believe - he is a great creative force in the midfield, and he is young enough to improve. I also believe signing De Jong/Kompany would be a good move - well, thats what I would do if I was manager. Smile

But I am sure HSV would like some players left to make a team with. But if Juventus are doing it to us, why can't we do it to them, hmm?

MUTU

The problem with Van der Vaart is that he is very inconsistent, and prone to injuries. I don't think we should build a team around a player who can't really be relied on.

Paddy · I'm a chatterbox! Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 746 votes: 7

Schweini is very incosistent too but i have to say VDV is better imo.

charger256

Relegation threatened Hamburg have warned Bayern Munich that in-demand midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is not for sale.

Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer suggested that the Bavarian giants could turn to the gifted playmaker in order to fill the midfield void left by Michael Ballack’s transfer to Chelsea.

However, Hamburg have move quickly to warn their Bundesliga rivals to keep their hands off the Dutch international.

"He is a vital player in our team and is of enormous importance for our future planning. The player is not for sale and there’s no financial bottom line," declared Hamburg’s director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

The former Ajax star, who is tied to Hamburg until 2010, has missed large parts of the season due to injury problems, but has nevertheless played an important role in helping the Rothosen pull out of the drop zone.

His fine form has made him a summer transfer target for Bayern but Hamburg are determined to stave off any potential interest by handing him an improved contract.

"We are going to deal with the matter as soon as we have secured our Bundesliga status," confirmed Beiersdorfer.

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kevh26

the thing i like about van der vaart is his loyalty, he's already come out and said if hamburg do go down, he wont excercise his relegation release clause

MUTU

Paddy · I'm a chatterbox! Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Posts: 746 votes: 7

MUTU

Rafael van der Vaart will still be a Hamburg player next season, according to the club's management.

The Dutch midfielder is at the centre of ongoing transfer speculation after Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich announced they would be interested in signing him in the summer.

A host of other clubs around Europe are also believed to be keen on the former Ajax star, but the north German club are adamant he is going nowhere.

"I cannot imagine any scenario in which he leaves Hamburg at the end of the season," said Hamburg's director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer.

"He is happy with us and is an elementary part of the team."

Van der Vaart stormed onto the Bundesliga scene last year after escaping constant intrusion into his private life in Holland.

The calmer atmosphere saw the 24-year-old rediscover his best form and help Hamburg to a place in the Champions League.

This season, he has struggled with injury in a squad that has performed well below the levels they achieved in the last campaign, but since Huub Stevens took control of the club in February, Van der Vaart has been back to his best.

He has been in sparking form as the club has edged away from relegation danger and scouts are once again beginning to flock to the AOL-Arena to see him in action.

But Beiersdorfer revealed any offer for the playmaker "would go straight into the shredder", adding: "We are thinking about extending his contract and are hopeful that he can also imagine that."

MUTU

German legend Franz Beckenbauer revealed Wednesday Bayern Munich are chasing Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart to fill the void left by Michael Ballack's departure to Chelsea a year ago.
The Dutchman is seen by Bayern president Beckenbauer as the ideal replacement for Ballack, who left Bayern in May 2006, and could give the German giants a harder edge in midfield.

"Van der Vaart would suit us perfectly," said Beckenbauer, in his weekly column in the magazine Sport-Bild.

"He is the sort of player who can bring us the creativity which we are lacking at the moment."

Bayern were dumped out of the Champions League by AC Milan at the quarter-final stage last week, and coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has singled out Van der Vaart as a potential key piece in the Bayern midfield.

"We need creators in our squad and Van der Vaart would also bring a tougher edge to our defence," said Hitzfeld, whose side are fourth in the Bundesliga.

Having arrived in Hamburg from Dutch giants Ajax in 2005, Van der Vaart, 24, is under contract until 2010. He helped Hamburg finish third in last season's Bundesliga and has Ballack's strong defensive ability and attacking flair.

The player's Danish agent Soeren Lerby, a former Bayern player and close friend of Munich's manager Uli Hoeness, said: "Rafael is enjoying his time in Hamburg, but he also wants to play to earn champion titles."

Hitzfeld has also re-expressed his interest in Werder Bremen striker Miroslav Klose, who was the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup and who is under contract with Bremen until 2008.

"We are always interested in good German players, that's why we are following the Klose case," added Hitzfeld.

Klose, 28, is also being courted by Italian giants Juventus.

FC Bajern

alex · Woah, this feels cool! Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 87

from SKY Sports:

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Duncan

His dreams clubs are in Spain Wink

Nonetheless I doubt he is a real topic in Bayern management. The Kaiser's chatter has no relevance to me. To be more speicific from an objective point of view considering vdV as the playmaker, that can solve all of Bayern's problems, I find it rather interesting that this is not backed up at all by his season statistics:

vdV: 6 goals, 4 assists in 21 appearances
efficiency: 10/21 = 0.476

(last season: 19 games, 9 goals, 4 assists)

compared to

Diego: 12 goals, 12 assists in 29 appearances
efficiency: 24/29 = 0.827

Taken vdV injury proneness into account I really want to hear a logic explanation for "why vdV"?

edit:

compared to

Schweinsteiger: 4 goals, 6 assists, 27 games
efficiency: 10/27 = 0.370

Interesting!