Voetbal International reported on a Thursday that Sparta Rotterdam and SC Heerenveen are hoping to sign 24-year-old Dutch midfielder Dirk Proper from NEC this summer. Proper's role at NEC has diminished, as he started only five matches last season because of the strong performance of Kodai Sano. A move to Rotterdam would reunite him with Rogier Meijer, with whom he previously worked at NEC. Heerenveen views him as a potential replacement for Joris van Overeem and Marcus Linday. A longer stay at NEC is possible, as manager Schreuder reportedly wants to keep the midfielder. Proper has one year left on his contract and may leave if the right offer is made. Voetbal International states that the asking price is around one and a half million euros. The defensive midfielder has made 11 appearances and scored one goal for the Netherlands U21 team.