Scouting Report: Luuk de Jong

Name: Luuk de Jong
Age: 21
Position: Striker
Club: FC Twente
Nationality: Dutch
Estimated Fee: 10 - 15 Million Pounds
League Stats 2011/12 = Games: 31, Goals: 25, Assists: 9

News

Luuk de Jong is a player that Liverpool have been following for a few transfer windows now. He has recently become a full dutch international and has attracted interest due to his superb goal record this year. Louis Laros who is de Jong's agent had this to say: "Liverpool are closely monitoring Luuk. But there are at least 15 more teams who are after him. Three big teams that have qualified for the Champions League preliminaries have told us that they are ready to open talks with Twente." He is expected to be avialable for around 15 million euros and has a contract that runs until 2014,  at the age of 21 he also fits FSG's recruit young policy.

Pros, Cons and Stats

In essence de Jong is a typical number 9 who is blessed with a natural finishing ability, good movement and superb aerial skills. He is perceied as relatively strong and would be able to handle himself in the premier league. He is young and has showed exceptional growth over the last few years and would be expected to grow even more as a player. The issues with him are that he is not blessed with great pace and can struggle with his decision making at times. He tends to go missing in games and some people may argue he is too similar to Andy Carrol.

Conclusion

de Jong is a fantastic prospect and has the one thing that Carroll lacks and that is his finishing ability. The things that could count against him would be Liverpool looking for a faster striker to what they have and his inexperience in a major league. If Liverpool are going to operate on a more limited budget this year as expected at 15 milllion euros, de Jong would be a great bit of business for us. He is expected to get even better and the attributes that he lacks are those that come with experience. All in all a relatively risk free bargain transfer in a position Liverpool are desperate to fill. GET HIM

Transfermarket, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/youns-belhanda/profil/spieler_118022.html
ESPN Soccernet, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/_/id/274/montpellier?cc=3888
Goal.com, Accessed 16/05/2012, Available at http://www.goal.com/en/news/462/netherlands/2012/05/01/3073755/liverpool-are-closely-monitoring-luuk-de-jong-says-agent