Thursday, 21st April, 2011
Borussia Dortmund are in pole position to sign Nigel de Jong from Manchester City if the Dutchman leaves Eastlands this summer. Reports from De Jong’s native Holland suggest that a switch to the Ruhr giants is a distinct possibility and the Bundesliga side are readying a move.
According to Algemeen Dagblad, De Jong has emerged as Dortmund’s favoured option to bolster a midfield that the Germans hope will be able to punch its weight in next season’s Champions League. And with Turkish international Nuri Sahin in demand, and Dortmund admitting resisting an approach from Barcelona or Real Madrid for their young midfielder would prove difficult, efforts for De Jong look set to be stepped up.
Under contract with City until 2013, De Jong would cost an estimated €15M, providing the Premier League side are ready to bid farewell to the Dutchman.
Since joining from Hamburg in 2009, De Jong has been a controversial figure, being excluded from the Holland side at one point. The 26-year-old was also at the centre of a storm earlier this season when he was involved in the tackle which left Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg.
Dortmund should face opposition should they choose to push ahead with their swoop for De Jong too, with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich also keeping an eye on the situation.
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