Justin Kluivert and Donny Van de Been have scored Eredivisie hat-tricks in successive weekends – Spurs will surely have to bid very big.
Tottenham Hotspur have history when it comes to nabbing Ajax’s most talented youngsters. All three of Spurs’ first choice defenders, Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen, played for the Eredivisie giants prior to their move to North London.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen has evolved into one of the best playmakers in world football after Spurs won the race for his signature back in the summer of 2013.
And these four former Amsterdammers could be joined by two more players reared in Ajax’s famed finishing school sooner rather than later. Sky Sports reported last month that both Justin Kluivert and Donny Van de Beek are on Tottenham’s radar with Mauricio Pochettino’s side sending scouts to Holland in recent weeks.
And the highly-rated duo have certainly enhanced their reputations since those transfer links emerged. Ajax have thrashed NAC Breda and Roda JC 8-0 and 5-1 in the last two matchdays – and both Van de Beek and Kluivert notched a hat-trick in each.
On the goal trail
20-year-old Van De Beek had only scored three senior goals for Ajax but doubled his entire career tally with a clinical performance against NAC last week. A clever and creative central midfielder, the Dutchman’s price tag will only increase if he continues to add goals to his game.
But he was arguably outshone by fellow Dutch youth star Kluivert the week after. The 18-year-old, son of legendary striker Patrick, had not scored a single goal all season before firing in a sublime trio against Roda, producing one of the best individual displays the Eredivisie has seen all season.
If Tottenham were planning to make January moves for Van de Beek and Kluivert, chairman Daniel Levy may have to dig a little deeper now.
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