Sunday, August 2, 2009

Sousa quiet on Dutch striker link

Jhon van Beukering
Dutch striker Jhon van Beukering started his career at Vitesse Arnhem

Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa is refusing to comment over speculation linking the club with Dutch striker Jhon van Beukering.

The 25-year-old plays for Dutch Premier League side NEC Nijmegen and BBC Wales understands there is "serious interest" from the Swans.

But when asked if a bid has been made, Sousa told BBC Sport Wales: "I don't want to speak about these things.

"Normally, what I do is when it is done, we announce that."

Van Beukering has emerged as a target for Sousa to replace the departed Jason Scotland.

He has scored 15 goals in 47 appearances in his two years at Dutch Premier League side Nijmegen.

Sousa has already confirmed an interest in Southampton duo Grzegorz Rasiak and Marek Saganowski.

Van Beukering joined Nijmegen, who finished 11th in the Dutch Eredivisie last season, from De Graafschap in 2007 and has reportedly one year left on his contract.

Paulo Sousa on transfer targets

Van Beukering scored 48 goals in 90 appearances in his three years at De Graafschap and helped inspire the Doetinchem club to promotion to the Eredivisie.

Nijmegen have claimed in the Dutch press that the Swans will "elaborate on their interest in the coming days."

But BBC Sport understands the Championship club have not yet made a bid for van Beukering, who started his career at Vitesse Arnhem and spent two years on loan at Vitesse's feeder club FC Zwolle.

Van Beukering is not the only striker on the Swans' radar as Sousa is interested in Saints forwards Rasiak and Saganowski, who are both available for transfer after Southampton's relegation to League One.

Swansea also had a bid accepted for Ipswich striker Pablo Counago and although the Spaniard turned down a move to south Wales, Sousa has not given up the chase.

Scotland, who was Swansea's top-scorer for his two seasons at the Liberty Stadium, sealed a £2m move to Premier League side Wigan last month to join up with former Swans manager Roberto Martinez.


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