The 21-year-old Netherlands and AZ Alkmaar striker has emerged as a target for several top Premier League sides and has recently expressed a desire to make the step up to the next level from the Dutch Eredivisie.
Vincent Janssen has been turning heads with his performances for Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, who finished third in the Dutch league thanks to 27 goals and 4 assists by their talented young striker. Janssen has also managed to make an impression on the international stage, as the Netherlands deal with the declining capabilities of their strike force of Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Janssen has scored three goals in five international appearances for the Oranje, his latest coming in their international friendly against Austria on Saturday which the Netherlands won 2-0.
“I want to make a step, that is clear,” he said after the win, according to Goal. “But there is no white smoke just now. England? We will see. Maybe something will happen in the holidays. I will take my phone with me anyway.”
The striker has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain, with AZ Alkmaar reportedly resigned to losing him this summer and open to listening to offers.
Manchester United were considered to be strong favourites to claim the striker’s signature, but the potential arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the club — a deal which looks all but confirmed — makes it unlikely that they would be in the market for yet another striker.
Arsenal interested, but Vardy transfer would change everything
Arsenal have been the other big Premier League club linked with Janssen. The Dutch striker was apparently heavily scouted by the Gunners in the latter part of this past season after his imperious performance for the national team against England, a game in which he scored one goal and assisted the other as the Three Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat.
However, the North London side have already initiated their transfer market moves, and to bolster their attacking options, have decided to meet Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy’s release clause. Vardy has been phenomenal in the Premier League this year and would provide some serious competition to Olivier Giroud for the central striker’s position.
If Vardy moves to Arsenal, then Janssen immediately becomes an interesting prospect for Premier League champions Leicester City. The Dutch striker would surely be keen to make the move and would come at a relatively cheap price. With Vardy possibly making the switch to the Emirates, the Foxes will definitely be desperate to add some talent to their strike force. Janssen has been tentatively priced at around the £10m mark, but could go for much more if a bidding war ensues.
No Euros increases risk quotient
The Netherlands have failed to qualify for the Euros for the first time since 1984. The rise of Vincent Janssen has come after Robin van Persie was ousted from the central strikers’ role during a terrible qualifying campaign where the Oranje lost out to the likes of Iceland, Turkey and the Czech Republic in their qualifying group.
Janssen received his first international start in the friendly against England and has made a very promising beginning to his international career as well. Euro 2016 would have been the perfect opportunity for him to burst onto the scene and showcase his ability against stronger competition.
A lack of international football this summer means that Janssen still represents a risky purchase due to his relative inexperience, with the 21-year-old having started regular first-team football just this past season. The Dutchman has managed to become a regular goalscorer in the Eredivisie, but the Premier League presents a completely different challenge and it remains to be seen if one of England’s top clubs gives him the opportunity to prove himself.
