Anita tempted by the Premier League

One of the deepest rivalries in English football is about to intensify off the pitch as the Sunderland, Newcastle race for Ajax midfielder Vurnon Anita took a bit of a twist as the player announced he would be tempted by a move to the Premier League.

Newcastle have already seen a bid rejected for the defensive midfielder as Ajax hold out for a fee in the region of £10-£12 milion, whilst bitter North East rivals Sunderland have also expressed an interest in the 23 year old.

The Daily Mirror say that Ajax have slapped an £8 million price-tag on Anita who has been in the senior Ajax set up since 2005, but Sky are reporting that it will take more than that for the Magpies to land their man.

Anita, who originates from the luxurious setting of the Netherlands Antilles, has two years remianing on his contract according to Soccer365 and he has a cushy set up at the Amsterdam ArenA with Champions League football to look forward to for next year.

However, Sky Sports quote Anita as telling the Dutch media that he is indeed tempted by Premier League interest and will go away to discuss it with his parents.

The mobile player, who can also play at left-back, says that the Premier League is a top competition and even though it would be "no punishment" for him to stay in Amsterdam, an understatment to anybody who knows what goes down in the Dutch city, he would take a very long, careful time to study any proposed move to England.

The Daily Mirror also claim that an active Newcastle are also making headway in their quest to land French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, with a move expected to progress over the next week.

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