Firstly let’s get past the funny name, Ricky van Wolfswinkel; it’s going to raise a few laughs if he does sign for Liverpool but what of the player? What will we get if he is actually signed by the Reds before the end of the transfer window?
Ricky started out life in the junior ranks of Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem after moving from his hometown Woudenburg. In 2007, he was awarded a prize by the Dutch Federation for becoming the top goalscorer in the junior league’s national first division. His performances and the accolade meant it was not long before he made his breakthrough into Vitesse’s first team. He made his debut for the club in April 2008 coming on as a substitute for Santi Kolk in a league match against Sparta Rotterdam. It was to be first of many appearances for the club.
After appearing in a solitary substitute appearance during the 2007/08 season, van Wolfswinkel became a regular for Vitesse during the 2008/09 campaign. Invariably playing as a striker or as an attacking midfield player, Ricky scored 8 goals in 34 matches during the season. A powerfully, built rangy striker, he has both ability in the air and on the floor, something that would have attracted Roy Hodgson. His impressive performances attracted the likes of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and AZ Alkmaar, where van Wolfswinkel admitted he would like to play under Louis van Gaal.
Van Wolfswinkel would however transfer to FC Utrecht for the start of the 2009/10 campaign and would become an important member of the first team squad, wearing the number 9 jersey as the club’s primary striker. He signed a three year contract with the Dutch club and proceeded to demonstrate his talents for the side. He scored 12 goals in all competitions as FC Utrecht finished seventh in the league.
The team’s successful season gave them the chance of Europa League place and they beat Roda JC 6-1 in the final of the European Qualfication play-off at the end of last season. They entered the Europa League in the 2nd qualifying round and they have now beaten, FC Tirana, FC Luzern and Celtic to get to the group stage of the competition where by coincidence they will be playing Liverpool. Van Wolfswinkel himself has already scored seven goals in six Europa League appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Celtic last night, shown in the footage below:
[youtube mJpooyvVf70&feature=player_embedded#!]
Van Wolfswinkel has also started the Eredivisie campaign in sparkling form, scoring five goals in the opening three matches of the season, including a brace against Willem II at the weekend; a match rumoured to have been watched by Liverpool scouts. His early season form prompted Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk to give him a call up to the senior national side earlier this month. In a youthful Netherlands team, van Wolfswinkel made his debut for his country in a friendly against the Ukraine. The 21 year old had previously played matches for the Netherlands U19s and U20s as well as three matches for the country’s B team.
It is certainly the case that van Wolfswinkel is in the early stage of his career and has a long way to go before he becomes a star. The Dutch international setup have already shown a lot of faith in him though and there is a lot of excitement about his talent in Holland. At £8m though, it would still be a big risk for Roy Hodgson and Liverpool to take.
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I think Liverpool have taken too many risks over the years on these unknown and unproven players and had more fails than successes.
We’d be wiser to buy a striker from the Premiership or spend the 18m from Masch on Diego Forlan.
Make it so Roy! Same club where Kuyt first made his mark before he played for Feyenoord.
Well i am not gunna knock him but i would sell Babel and buy Ricky who will need time and either Huntelaar or Pazzini.
@daboy: huntelaar might be a good option but i don’t think liverpool would risk another italian or a player from serie a. we’ve all see how badly the likes of dossena, aquilani and shevchenko have done in the prem
Would any other clubs like to be involved in the Liverpool 50% off players deal,
50M worth of players for 25M
Could not be more annoyed, already the optimism has been sapped from my bones. Of course Ill still stay with Liverpool through thick and thin but still what is going on
@ Alan – trouble is if we had taken some other ‘risks’ then Ronaldo or Aguero would have been Liverppol players. Both were offered to us at relatively cheap prices and we decided against them. How different things could have been, particularly if Ronaldo had come to us instead of manure. Not only would we have been better, they would have been worse. The inevitable transfer fee would have been useful as well (getting it to spend being another story!!).
I would like one of the Dutch lads plus maybe someone relatively cheap, but proven (e.g., in later stages of career) or a loan of someone unwanted (e.g., Huntelaar)!
haven’t seen the lad play but he sounds like a dog’s dick to me!
agree with ben, you have to take a chance to unearth a possible gem!
He sounds promising, but I’m of the mind that a more experienced striker is needed. If Pacheco and Ngog can continue to grow as players, they can hopefully fill the striker gap in another year or two. Purchasing an experienced striker, even if slightly advanced in years, would facilitate this transition. Just not terribly sure that having another unknown quantity in a young striker is what we need at this point.
DEFOUR ISNT COMING, END THAT.
THIS DUTCH WINGER ABOVE IS NOT COMING, END THAT.
POSSIBLE;
REINA
JOHNSON CARRAGHER AGGER KONCHESKY
KUYT GERRARD MEIRELESS
COLE
TORRES
OR HOPE THIS IS TRUE. just had a very good insight into the frantic deals going ahead at Liverpool and they are all but done, this information has been given to me by a football agent who has been in portugual and now is acting as a agent over here in the premier league.
could be looking like this;
reina
johnson carragher agger konchesky
kuyt parker meireless
cole
gerrard torres