Aston Villa are close to formalising a deal with Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord to sign Netherlands defender, Ron Vlaar.
Villa manager, Paul Lambert originally met Vlaar earlier this month but there was no progress over the potential move as the Villans never followed up their interest. However, the two clubs have now agreed on a fee believed to be in the region of £3 million for the 27-year-old.
Vlaar first made his breakthrough at AZ Alkmaar before moving to Feyenoord back in 2006 where he quickly became a first-team regular. A foot injury would then keep Vlaar out for half a season and this was followed by two different ligament injuries which kept him out of action for TWO seasons. After both of these extended absences however, Vlaar made strong comebacks and found himself back in the first team.
Although Feyenoord won the KNVB Vup in 2008, this was during Vlaar’s time on the sidelines but the dutch defender was praised for his performances last season as he played a key-role in helping the Rotterdam club finish as runner-up behind Ajax and earning them a place in the third qualifying round of next season’s Champion’s League.
Vlaar played twice at Euro 2012 for the Netherlands, in the 1-0 and 2-1 defeats to Denmark and Portugal respectively. In his country’s last warm-up game before Euro 2012, Vlaar scored the last goal in an emphatic 6-0 win over Northern Ireand.
Lambert is obviously keen to strengthen his defense as he has already brought in full-back, Matthew Lowton from Sheffield United and Vlaar will be much needed competition for fellow centre-backs Richard Dunne and James Collins, the latter of which is a reported target for his former club West Ham United and Sunderland. He is the right age, and will aim to walk straight into a first team spot.
Vlaar will under-go a medical in Birmingham next week before the move is officially completed – a move that by many is seen as somewhat surprising and the player himself has said that it will be a huge wrench to leave Feyenoord after six years at the club, especially after helping them qualify for the Champions League.
This speaks volumes for the pulling-power of new boss, Paul Lambert and fans can now start wondering what other big-names he can bring to their club this summer – more than former gaffer Alex McLeish would have been able to, that’s for sure.
image: © ellbrown
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