Real set to land Huntelaar

Madrid close on Dutch star

By Francisco Acedo & Gerrit van Leeuwen   Last updated: 2nd December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Real set to land Huntelaar

Huntelaar: Set for Madrid?

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Real Madrid are set to finalise a deal for Dutch star Klaas Jan Huntelaar, according to Dutch and Spanish sources.

Leading Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported on Monday evening that Real and Ajax had agreed terms for the highly-regarded 25-year-old, and most media outlets in Holland soon followed with similar reports.

It is believed the fee is in the region of £20million and the two clubs should confirm the deal within 48 hours.

Huntelaar, who has over two-years left on his current contract at Ajax, has been chased by leading clubs from England, Italy and Spain but Real look to have finalised a deal.

Real have moved quickly to find high class striking reinforcements after Huntelaar's fellow countryman Ruud van Nistelrooy was ruled out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage.

It is believed Real had opened talks earlier this year about a prospective moved to the Bernabeu in 2009 for Huntelaar but they have now brought the deal forward by six months following van Nistelrooy's injury.

The Spanish giants have shown a liking for Dutch players in recent years, as together with van NIstelrooy there are another four Oranje stars in their squad in the shape of Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Royston Drenthe.

Huntelaar himself tore ankle ligaments last month - but he is expected to be fully fit by early January.