Hamburg boss Martin Jol is resigned to losing Manchester City target Nigel de Jong.
Hamburg chief plotting replacements as City close on target
Hamburg manager Martin Jol has admitted he is resigned to losing Manchester City target Nigel de Jong.
City have agreed a fee with the Bundesliga outfit for the highly-rated defensive midfielder's signature.
De Jong is now free to hold talks with the Eastlands club, and Jol has conceded he is already contemplating replacements.
The former Tottenham boss told Abendblatt: "Nigel is key to us, no doubt. And the offer from Manchester City tempts him, although I think the most attractive thing for him is playing Premier League football
"If he leaves us, I feel that we might not just buy a player for one position, I think we will be signing two or three players. It's clearly what we want to do. Losing Nigel is too big a loss."
Jol also confirmed that the 24-year-old will not participate in Hamburg's friendly against Bundesliga 2 outfit Hansa Rostock on Tuesday.
He added: "Nigel will not play, this is too risky. There are still things to be sorted out in this matter, but I really expect him to leave."
