Reports in the Belgium press suggest Standard Liege will be selling two of their prized assets this summer after a highly disappointing season. Midfield pair Axel Witsel and Steven Defour has been the driving force behind the club in the last few seasons as Standard won back to back league titles. However, with the club finishing in the Belgian top division and a staggering 46 points behind leaders Anderlecht, both players are looking to leave with a host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa all showing an interest. Standard’s captain Defour is reportedly in negotiations with Roy Hodgson over a move with the new Reds manager eager to seal the Belgium as his first signing at Anfield.
Standard’s captain Steven Defour has had no shortage of admirers in the last few seasons with Rafa Benitez, David Moyes and Sir Alex Ferguson all reported to have tracked his progress. In fact, Sir Alex sent the talented midfield playmaker a letter after Defour picked up a serious injury that kept him from playing from September until January. In the letter the Manchester United manager wrote, “You must be feeling quite down and are no doubt asking yourself all sorts of questions. But don’t worry: everything will work out. You will have to work hard to come back and I am going to follow your performances. I will remain in contact with Standard. I am writing this letter because one of your fans drew my attention to your injury.”
Defour was quick to play down speculation that this letter meant he would definitely join the Red Devils but it does show United’s interest is real. The player said told Het Laatste Nieuws ,”I don’t want to talk about it too much.”
“I would like to make it clear that he [Ferguson] followed the official procedure, i.e he went through Standard. It’s a really nice gesture but I wouldn’t want people to get the idea that I think I’m already a Manchester United player. Far from it.”
In fact, rather than join United, it would seem Defour is more likely to join their main rivals Liverpool as Roy Hodgson looks to make his mark at Anfield with the talented playmaker seen as the ideal signing.
Due to injuries, Defour only played 13 league games last season (12 starts) and his absence played a big part in the failure of Standard’s campaign. The 22-year-old star certainly put himself in the shop window with his European displays against both Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton in Europe in the last few seasons. The player obviously impressed both clubs and David Moyes has made at least two official moves in the past to sign the young starlet. Defour has spoken about the rejected bid, he told HLN at the time, “How high was the bid? I do not know, you would need to ask Luciano D’Onofrio [Standard vice-president] that question.”
“For now I wait quietly, I feel good at Standard, especially now we are in the Champions League,” he said.
“But I would be ready to move abroad, but the transfer will come when all parties are happy.”
Defour will be more than aware that Standard are not even in Europe this coming season and is actively seeking a move. Liverpool have also been tracking the talented playmaker for some time with Rafa Benitez a firm admirer in his talents. The Belgian was strongly linked with a move to Anfield when Xabi Alonso was consistently being chased by Real Madrid but instead he moved for Alberto Aquilani. That interest has been stepped up by Roy Hodgson who knows that a cheap deal could be pushed through after the player’s injury-hit season.
Defour is fiercely ambitious and declared in January 2009 he was ready to leave Standard. The Belgian international admitted, “I have achieved what I wanted to achieve with Standard.”
Before adding, “Maybe it is best for my career to make an upward step. I feel the time is right for me to move on.”
It’s of little surprise as the 5 ft 8 playmaker’s career has gone from strength to strength. Defour is now a permanent member of the Belgian national side with 24 caps and 1 goal to his name despite his tender years. He also captained the Belgian champions Standard (two successive titles) as well as won the 2007 Golden Shoe Award as most outstanding player in the Jupiler League. These achievements perfectly illustrate why Liverpool view him as the ideal signing to complement Steven Gerrard in the Reds midfield.
Defour began his career at Racing Genk where he made 30 League appearances (25 starts) and scored once. Despite breaking into the side at just 16-years-old the playmaker was soon one of the integral members of the side and his ambition led to a move to Standard. His departure caused such a commotion at Genk that the Chairman at the time Jos Vaessen stood down from his post.
He led Standard to the Belgian championship for the first time in 25 years in the 2007/08 season and has now made 97 League appearances for the club (91 starts) and scored 10 goals.
Defour is of a similar mould to Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes which explains Sir Alex Ferguson’s interest while Liverpool struggled to replace midfield schemer Xabi Alonso last season. Defour is very good at dictating the tempo of his team’s play which would be of great benefit to Roy Hodgson as Liverpool missed having someone to link midfield to attack and to release both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres last season. It would seem an £8.5m deal is on the cards with Defour set to be the first signing of Roy Hodgson’s reign at Anfield.
