Newcastle United target Luuk de Jong keen to leave Twente, confirms agent

Jul 1, 2012 11:21:00 PM

The young Dutch international has put himself in the shop window after a prolific season, and his representative affirmed the forward's desire to leave his current employers

Luuk de Jong's agent has confirmed that the Twente striker is set to leave the club this summer, amid rumoured interest from Premier League side Newcastle United.

The 21-year-old is one of the hottest properties in Dutch football, having scored 25 goals in 32 Eredivisie matches in 2011-12, and this form has not escaped the attention of clubs across Europe.

Newcastle have reportedly dispatched officials to Netherlands in order to secure the forward's signature, and they will have been encouraged by news that the player is eager to change clubs.

"Luuk has taken the decision to move on," agent Louis Laros told TC Tubantia. "He wants to develop as a player in a bigger league.

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"The important thing for us is the development of Luuk. Not the money, but the way of playing and the amount of playing time he will get will be decisive.

"Luuk scored 25 goals in the Dutch league last season, how many more does he need to score? 35?"

Borussia Monchengladbach had earlier been widely reported to have sealed an €11 million move for the Dutch international, but Laros dispelled such rumours, and insisted that De Jong is still very much on the market.

"Luuk is still a Twente player," Laros told Voetbal International. "If the right club comes along then he will happily make the move.

"The club doesn't need to be a top club, but a good club in a big league where Luuk can play regularly and develop as a player.

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"I cannot name the clubs individually, but there are more than two clubs seriously interested in Luuk."

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