Huntelaar Becomes The Hunted

Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar is being scouted by the biggest clubs in Europe.

In the Netherlands the lanky Dutch striker racked up an impressive 113 goals in 136 appearances. He began his club career at PSV, moving through De Graafschap and AGOVV, before becoming a star at Ajax. 

His breakout performance on the Dutch side in Euro 2008 and 13 goals in 21 appearances for the Oranje has many people talking about him as the heir apparent to the now retired (internationally anyway) Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Indeed with RVN missing all last season due to injury, Huntelaar was purchased from Ajax by Real Madrid with much the same idea in mind.

While he failed to capture the same form in Madrid that he had at Ajax, Huntelaar scored a respectable eight goals in 20 appearances for Los Merengues. He, along with the rest of Real’s Dutch strike force, Arjen Robben, Welsey Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vaart, helped keep Los Blancos hot on Barcelona’s heels for much of the season.

But now, like many of his teammates, Huntelaar finds himself extraneous to Madrid’s new Kaka/Ronaldo centric frontline.

His name being one of those on a list of players Real has up on offer, there seems to be no lack of interest in the 25-year-old Dutchman. 

Even as early in the year as February, Arsene Wenger purportedly expressed interest in Huntelaar as a potential replacement in case of Adebayor leaving.

At the start of summer Tottenham Hotspur expressed repeated interest in buying Huntelaar and another of Real’s flying Dutchmen Arjen Robben, reportedly being prepared to pay the sum of 37 million pounds for the pair. 

Ironically though the two clubs linked most closely with “the Hunter” are Manchester United and AC Milan, the former clubs of Ronaldo and Kaka respectively.

Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly expressed an interest and is apparently prepared to shell out to the tune of 23 million pounds to bring the striker to Old Trafford.

While AC Milan haven’t put a number forward, there has been consistent buzz about bringing Huntelaar to the San Siro to revitalize AC Milan’s aging, Kaka-less, frontline.

On the verge of turning 26, Huntelaar may have yet to peak. It appears that whatever happens, the former Ajax player of the year, may still have his best act ahead of him.  And that’s something for all of us to look forward too.

Where would you most like to see Huntelaar play next season?