Chelsea transfer target Ruud Nijstad, on the right.
Chelsea transfer target Ruud Nijstad, on the right.
Chelsea are one of the clubs battling for FC Twente’s Ruud Nijstad ahead of the summer transfer window.
Last Wednesday, Sport Witness covered claims from the Dutch press that Chelsea are trying to tempt him with a lucrative salary.
Two days later, the 17-year-old said he’s happy with reports linking him to the Blues, Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He also insisted a transfer is possible in the next window.
Nijstad graduated from the Eredivisie side’s youth system and made his first team debut earlier this season.
His league stats this season are as follows:
Appearances: 17
Starts: 14
Total minutes: 1,341
Minutes per game: 79
Interceptions per game: 0.5
Tackles per game: 0.8
Ball recovered per game: 3.1
Dribbled past per game: 0.06
Clearances per game: 4.3
Duels won per game: 2.2
Chelsea interested in Ruud Nijstad transfer
Liam Rosenior’s side continue to show interest in the centre-back. Voetbal International have a report on Ruud Nijstad, titled: ‘Chelsea and Barca eye Nijstad: ‘Twente has struck gold’.’
Journalists Geert-Jan Jakobs and Martijn Krabbendam discuss his situation and what could happen with him in the summer.
Twente Fans, a website dedicating its coverage to the Dutch club, relay comments made by Jakobs on VI’s Rondje Eredivisie.
He’s aware the Netherlands U19 international’s ‘rapid development’ is attracting interest from the Blues and others but none of his suitors made contact with Twente.
“Nijstad still has to sign a new contract, but whether he will do so remains the question,” he said.
“If you believe the reports, the entire European elite is vying for him. Even before he had made his debut for FC Twente, the top Dutch clubs already wanted him.
“No clubs have contacted FC Twente directly, but I did hear through the grapevine that Chelsea is interested. And that FC Barcelona has been pursuing him for quite some time.”
The journalist urges the player to not consider a move to a top club like Chelsea or the La Liga side.
“The question is what he wants himself. A good advisor would say that he should stay at Twente longer. Get some experience there before you end up in the second team of a big club,” Jakobs explained.
“Well, if you can go from FC Twente to PSV and play in the Champions League there and compete for the title in the Netherlands, then that is certainly a step up. But he didn’t want to take that step before. Back then, he chose Twente. I don’t know what he wants. But FC Twente have struck gold.”
Contract, value and agent info
Ruud Nijstad will have a year left on his contract after this season. FC Twenete would like to renew his contract, but he hasn’t made a decision yet. Without a renewal, the Dutch club are most likely to sell him in the next window.
Transfermarkt value him at €8m, and a fee around this region may be enough to convince the Dutch club. Agency Essel Sports Management are representing the Chelsea target.
Ahead of the summer, the player has a big decision to make on whether to sign a new contract or change clubs.