N.E.C. Nijmegen is in talks to sign free agent defender Mitchel Bakker. The club will make a decision this week following a successful trial period at their training camp in Estepona, Spain.
Bakker, who has been without a club since leaving Atalanta Bergamo, trained with the squad over the past week. Head coach Dick Schreuder stated the 26-year-old made a strong impression. "He has made a good impression on us over the past week. Not only as a player, but also as a person," Schreuder said. The manager also highlighted the experience of the former Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain player: "Mitchel is, of course, super experienced for his age with the clubs he has played for."
Schreuder sees Bakker primarily as a defender, capable of playing on the left, right, or in the centre. His arrival would be a welcome boost for a defence dealing with injury concerns. Bram Nuytinck and Philippe Sandler are injured, while Perr Schuurs and Ahmetcan Kaplan are not yet fully fit.
The potential move comes at a key time. N.E.C.'s recent form from their last five matches reads one win, two draws, and two defeats (DLLDW). Their last result was a 1-1 home draw with Go Ahead Eagles on 20 September. The next and formidable challenge is an away fixture against Ajax on Saturday, 10 October. The full schedule and current standings are available on the site.
Bakker, who has also played for Bayer Leverkusen and OSC Lille, chose to return to play in the Netherlands. N.E.C. Nijmegen aims to reach an agreement with the player this week.
Background and full detail: espn.nl
