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Report: Wolfsburg to sign Japan's Mike Havenaar on a free transfer in January
The Germans have apparently beaten off interest from Bundesliga rival Stuttgart and Dutch side Vitesse to sign the prolific Ventforet Kofu striker
Dec 7, 2011 11:39:00 AM
By Mark Doyle
Cesare Polenghi
Japan international Mike Havenaar will join Wolfsburg during the January transfer window, according to Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.
The 24-year-old Ventforet Kofu striker, who was born in Hiroshima to Dutch parents, has been heavily linked with Stuttgart and Vitesse in recent weeks.
However, according to reports, the player has agreed terms with Wolfsburg and will arrive on a free transfer during the winter break following his current club's relegation from J. League Division 1. The deal is expected be confirmed later this week.
Havenaar has scored 38 goals in 66 games for Ventforet Kofu and has already been capped five times by Japan, scoring twice.
Meanwhile, it is also claimed that Wolfsburg’s moves for Czech international duo Vaclav Pilar and Petr Jiracek are not running quite as smoothly.
The club had hoped to sign Hradec Kralove winger Pilar in January but the player is currently on loan to Viktoria Plzen and they are allegedly unwilling to release him before the end of the season.
The acquisition of Pilar's Plzen teammate Jiracek was all set to be announced on Thursday, but the 25-year-old midfielder picked up an ankle injury in Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with AC Milan, potentially delaying the deal.
The 24-year-old Ventforet Kofu striker, who was born in Hiroshima to Dutch parents, has been heavily linked with Stuttgart and Vitesse in recent weeks.
However, according to reports, the player has agreed terms with Wolfsburg and will arrive on a free transfer during the winter break following his current club's relegation from J. League Division 1. The deal is expected be confirmed later this week.
Havenaar has scored 38 goals in 66 games for Ventforet Kofu and has already been capped five times by Japan, scoring twice.
Meanwhile, it is also claimed that Wolfsburg’s moves for Czech international duo Vaclav Pilar and Petr Jiracek are not running quite as smoothly.
The club had hoped to sign Hradec Kralove winger Pilar in January but the player is currently on loan to Viktoria Plzen and they are allegedly unwilling to release him before the end of the season.
The acquisition of Pilar's Plzen teammate Jiracek was all set to be announced on Thursday, but the 25-year-old midfielder picked up an ankle injury in Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with AC Milan, potentially delaying the deal.
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