Club Brugge must hand Noa Lang a new contract to ward off interest from Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, former manager Henk Houwaart has told Het Laatste Nieuws.
Dutch giants Ajax are the masters when it comes to finding, developing and finally selling talented youngsters, earning huge fees for the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Frenkie de Jong.
But everybody makes mistakes.
And, with the benefit of hindsight, Ajax’s decision to sell Lang for just £5 million last summer looks exactly that – a mistake.
Because, less than 12 months on, The Telegraph is reporting the Dutch U21 international is valued in excess of £20 million.
Leeds United, the Premier League’s great entertainers, are leading the chase for a dazzling attacking midfielder who, with 16 goals and ten assists this season, is justifying his iron-clad self-belief at the Jupiler League leaders.
“How can you keep Lang in Bruges?” asks Houwaart, a former player and manager at Club Brugge.
“If necessary, give him a new, better contract than what has already been agreed. He is well off here. (He) speaks the language.”
In December 2019, Lang became the first player in 60 years to score a hat-trick on his first Eredivisie start in Ajax colours.
Even that history-making feat wasn’t enough to keep the Rotterdam-born 21-year-old at the Johan Cruyff Arena, however, with Lang and coach Erik ten Hag clearly not seeing eye to eye.
However, here’s a warning for Leeds. Lang will bring extraordinary talent to Elland Road but, with such an outspoken and self-confident player, the rough will always come with the smooth.
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