Alex McLeish has already been linked to a signing were he to be appointed manager of Aston Villa as expected before the weekend after it was reported that he had held discussions with Randy Lerner with regards to transfer targets before a contract has even been agreed. Dutch attacking winger Wesley Verhoek is the man in question and would undoubtedly be seen as a like-for-life replacement for the likes of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing who have both been linked with moves away from Villa Park.
Verhoek is a man who will be unfamiliar to most but is regarded as a top player in Holland having come through the ranks at ADO Den Haag. Now 24, Verhoek helped his side to a Europa League qualification in Eredivisie, earning the league’s Silver Shoe award handed to the second best player in the competition.
His displays have failed to earn him any international caps as of yet but impressive stats from the last campaign saw the Dutchman net 8 goals in 37 games, but more impressively, pick up 17 assists in the process, with a goal contribution rate of 1 every 133.9 minutes.
Verhoek is also reportedly a target for new Nottingham Forest boss Steve McLaren who is thought to be an admirer of the wide man from his time in charge at FC Twente but he could face stiff competition from the man who is set to win the Villa post ahead of him.
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