Witsel, Vertonghen, De Bruyne

[Jumanji]

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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was present at the KNVB Beker final to scout Ajax star Jan Vertonghen, according to reports in Belgium and the Netherlands.

City are believed to have seen a bid for Belgium international Vertonghen, 24, turned down in January but are now reportedly prepared to spend £15 million on the player, who recently revealed he was dreaming of a move to England.

Meanwhile, City scout Attilio Lombardo was at Sclessin on Saturday to check out Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel. Witsel, 22, has been a key figure for Standard this season and will have impressed Lombardo with an excellent goal to beat Club Brugge and keep Standard in with a chance to win the Belgian League.

Witsel - a former winner of the Golden Shoe, Belgium's highest individual accolade - has stated his desire to move on, saying he has "nothing left to win in Belgium".

City also sent scouts to watch Kevin De Bruyne, 19, who has also attracted interest from Chelsea. His club, Racing Genk, are currently top of the league in Belgium and clear favourites to win. The attacking midfielder, yet another of Belgium's young talents, has attracted headlines recently for his dribbling, passing ability and a vision belying his young age. Zenit St Petersburg are also in the market for him.

 

[BelgianBlue]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

 

[Jake The Muss]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

Thanks for the info. I had only heard of Alex Witsel and Lakaku and i didnt really know anything about De Bruyne and Vertonghen.

 

[bluethai]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

What is Witsel's exact position in the midfield?

 

[Blue Haze]

Some of De Bruyne's videos on Youtube are impressive. His passing and distribution looks fantastic. Only 7-8 million apparently.

 

[samharris]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

If they are as good as Vinny then why not.. welcome to our board btw. :)

 

[Kurple]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

What is Witsel's exact position in the midfield?

I would like to know this as well

 

[LongsightM13]

Belgium have had a fantastic generation of young players come along all at once, some amazing talents for a relatively small country. Dark horses for the next Euros.
Along with Hazard and Defour, wouldn't mind any of the lads mentioned above. We already have Vinny and Dedryk of course.

 

[Anonymous]

Belgium have had a fantastic generation of young players come along all at once, some amazing talents for a relatively small country. Dark horses for the next Euros.
Along with Hazard and Defour, wouldn't mind any of the lads mentioned above. We already have Vinny and Dedryk of course.

My gut feeling is that we'll see Lukaku and one other Belgian from the names mentioned come in this summer. I believe Vinny's voice booms large in the national team dressing room, and other than Hazard, none of them will cost silly money.

 

[st. blue]

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

What is Witsel's exact position in the midfield?

I would like to know this as well

Witsel is a defensive midfielder very much in the De Jong mould, i.e. comfortable on the ball, good at getting round the pitch and aggressive in the tackle. He would be excellent cover for De Jong/Barry/Vieira.

Funnily enough the De Jong comaprisons dont end there. Like our beloved Nige, Axels rep goes before him and was almost chased out of Belgium for a tackle on Wasilewcki in the Anderlecht v Standard Liege game a few years ago, if you havent seen the stamp by Witsel that kicked it all off, check it out on youtube.<br /><br />-- Thu May 12, 2011 7:57 pm --<br /><br />

I am Belgian, I live in Belgium and I follow our football league here.
I can tell you that De Bruyne is an absolute talent, he plays and shows off his skills at Genk every week. But Axel Witsel would even be better in my opinion, he and Romelu Lukaku are the best players in the Belgian league at the moment.

About Jan Vertonghen, I don't see him play much because he plays in the Netherlands, but in our international team he is a very good player, has a good long distance shot and superb mentality.

Grtz

What is Witsel's exact position in the midfield?

I would like to know this as well