Chelsea, Liverpool and United chase £15 million Dutch ace
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are to spend the summer battling it out for SV Hamburg play maker Rafael Van Der Vaart. The Holland international impressed during his country's run to the quarter-final of the European Championships in Austria & Switzerland and it now looks likely that three of the Premier League best sides will battle for his signature. (News of the World)
Van Der Vaart, 25, has previously been linked with moves to England, with Chelsea said to be close to signing him before his move to Hamburg in 2005 from Dutch side Ajax. Phil Scolari, Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson are all willing to meet Hamburg's £15 million price-tag for Van Der Vaart although that fee may rise to £20 million.
New Hamburg boss Martin Jol is keen to hold onto Van Der Vaart but that appears unlikely now after the player rejected a contract a few months back. I personally would love to see Van Der Vaart in the Premier League. I feel he would be a perfect signing for United considering Cristiano Ronaldo's likely departure from the club.