KLAAS JAN HUNTELAAR JOINS REAL MADRID- 4/1 TO WIN LA LIGA

The news has just broke that Real Madrid are signing Klaas Jan Huntelaar from Ajax Amsterdam and their odds of winning La Liga's title have been cut to 4/1. The pacey hitman has been linked with Manchester United and a plethora of other clubs over the past two seasons or so. His stand-out performances in the Dutch league have been grabbing attention for quite some time and it wasn't really a question of whether he would leave, it was a question of when. Many Spanish football observers would credit Ruud Van Nistelrooy's long-term absence as the galvanizing force behind Real Madrid's latest acquisition. While nobody would consider Klaas Jan to be a player in the model of Real's Galacticos, but he will certainly have an immediate impact at Madrid. The deal is said to be in the neighbourhood of 17 million pounds. Another key factor may have been the transfer-deadline day sale of Robinho to Manchester City. While the young Brazilian has certainly made his presence known in the Premier League, it seems to have left Real Madrid bereft of striking options- and Huntelaar is exactly the man for the job. With Berbatov going to Manchester United (the only other really likely destination for Huntelaar) his fate looked pretty much sealed and Real must have realized that they needed to act now. Popular bookmaker 888sport has listed Real Madrid at 4/1 to win La Liga's title- second place to odds-on favourite Barcelona who are listed at 2/7. Huntelaar may very well go on a goal-scoring streak that could re-shape the table this year. Real Madrid, currently sitting in fourth will be expecting the flying Dutchman to make good in front of goal.