Newcastle Enter Van Der Vaart Race

By Mark Buitenhof
May 12 2005

Rafael Van Der Vaart is allowed to leave Ajax next summer, a host of European clubs is ready to bid for the 22 year old. Interested sides are AS Roma, Hamburger SV, Arsenal and now Newcastle United has been linked with a move for the Holland international. With many players about to leave this summer, Greame Souness is looking to reshape his squad. Lee Bowyer, Hugo Viana, Patrick Kluivert and Laurent Robert are likely to leave Newcastle and Rafael Van Der Vaart seems a good replacement for Lee Bowyer in the middle of the park.

Van Der Vaart's contract is running until the summer of 2006, Ajax opted to cash in on him rather than to let him go for free next year.

The transfer fee is estimated to be £3.7 million.

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