The stage is set this summer for Liverpool and Manchester United to finally put one of the most rewritten transfer rumours to bed. Young Belgian midfielder Steven Defour will finally tell current club Standard Liege that it is time to move on.
The 22-year-old’s agent has revealed that a switch to the English top flight is on the cards for his player at the end of the season though he has not revealed his preferred destination. “Every top club is following him and regularly watching him, but there is no concrete contact,” Paul Stefani told Sport.co.uk.
“The Premier League is something he likes very much, and he has performed well against Liverpool and Everton in Europe, he was one of the best players on the pitch.
The player himself has also commented previously on his wish to move abroad. On 26 October talking to talksport Defour said “I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me – if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season.”
Manchester United and Liverpool have been tracking the midfielder for the last two years with him rumoured to be Xabi Alonso replacement until he suffered a broken foot. Manchester United manager even went as far as sending him a personal letter wishing him speedy recovery.
The future appears bright for Defour after being a hit in the Belgian League. For the 2007–08 season, despite being only 19 years old, the right-sided Belgian international was appointed as Standard’s captain.
During the 2007–08 season Defour received the Golden Shoe, the official award for most valuable player in the Belgian League, of the year 2007. The form that won him this award would continue as Defour led Standard to the League title, for the first time in 25 years. He repeated this by winning the second Belgian title in a row after two play-off matches against Anderlecht.
After achieving all he can at his current club, the player is destined for a move to the Premier League. It is not a case of when but where for the Belgian perhaps Ferguson’s personal touch may give him the edge.
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