Rafael van der Vaart hailed Quinten Timber's development as he said the reported Liverpool transfer target has become an 'incredibly good' player.
Timber, the twin brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien, joined Feyenoord in 2022 and, after a transitional debut campaign following his switch from Utrecht, has established himself as a key player for the Eredivisie club since the beginning of last season.
Speaking about Timber's development while appearing on a NOS broadcast in the Netherlands, former Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk gave Van der Vaart credit for always believing that Timber would come good.
"I have to say: Rafael was one of the first to predict this direction for Timber. I myself still had some doubts. But you were actually convinced of him from the very first moment," Van Hooijdonk said.
“It was a bit of a crazy moment," Van der Vaart responded. "I always thought he was a good player, but it didn’t work out at Feyenoord [at first]. Now he’s become incredibly good.”
Timber played in all but three of Feyenoord's league matches under Arne Slot last season, and it has been reported in recent weeks that the central midfielder is of interest to the Reds' new manager.
Liverpool has overhauled its midfield in recent years, with several senior players departing and being replaced by fresh blood, but
has performed brilliantly in the No.6 role that was earmarked for Zubimendi, but Slot is still light on midfield options and would like one or two more bodies to choose from in the engine room.
It was reported by in September that the 23-year-old Timber's ability to play in a variety of midfield roles is what makes him an appealing proposition to the Reds.
It is claimed that Liverpool could move for Timber, who has appeared in each of the Netherlands' last three matches, as early as January, but that it is more likely that the Reds will wait until next summer, when Timber will enter the final 12 months of his current Feyenoord contract.
