Luuk De Jong’s stock rises with exquisite performance.

One of Europe’s most coveted prospects, was again in outstanding form in a draw with NAC Breda. Luuk De Jong’s opening goal, can be viewed on the link http://eredivisielive.nl/video/52827-61-doelpunt-luuk-de-jong-fc-twente—nac-breda-1-1.html. The Dutch strikers tally for the season now stands out at an impressive 28 goal return, with a move to a big club on the cards in the summer, it’s not surprising to see Twente’s number nine being dubbed as the new ‘Van Persie’.  

With the club in search of three points, the game posed a challenge that would see struggling NAC Breda desperate to thwart the ‘Tukkers’ title push, for their own Eredivise future, however with consecutive away draws to ADO Den Haag and AZ Alkmaar, Twente could ill afford more dropped points.  The game was dominated with end to end chances, with NAC opting for a three pronged that has only produced 13 league goals, not even half of De Jong’s ratio this term. But NAC’s nineteen year old Schalik , stunned the home-crowd with his seventh of the season on the 56^th minute. Nevertheless, Twente’s number nine responded clinically, with a brace within the space of a breath-taking four minutes making it 2-1, but a win was to prove elusive, with Bourkhari’s 93^rd minute equaliser, all but denting Steve McLaren’s hopes of a second Eredivise title.  

Few could have predicted that after the loss of Bryan Ruiz to Fulham, that Luuk would progress to such lengths, a string of man of match performances all season, have not gone unnoticed with a January move to Liverpool previously being mooted.  One would cast doubt though, as to why Europe’s elite would take notice of a player who is scoring goals at mercy in a league with little depth in quality. Yet Luuk De Jong has already opened his international scoring account for the senior national side, with fellow Dutch sensation Ricky Van Wolfswinkel failing to do so. Whilst an impressive campaign in the Europa League has also added much value to his improbable multi-million pound price tag, so few would argue that surely this summer will be his last at the De Grolsch Veste. 

His next destination however will remain unclear, with many potential suitors opting to wait until after the euros to tie up any deal, but a word of warning must surely be given to all De Jong followers, any big money transfer, can lead to immediate and fatal setbacks, with Klass Jan Huntelaar’s struggles at the Bernabeu and San-Siro proving all too conclusive.

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