Bergwijn transfer is getting close. Terms almost settled and announcement will be July 1 after the new fiscal year starts. Ajax are putting very high transfer prices on Martinez, Timber and Antony. Teams will have to pay big money to pry any of them away. I suspect they will all be with Ajax for one more season.
Ajax badly needs a GK. Flekken and Cillessen have been rumored. Bergwijn coming is good hopefully Brobbey stays also. Wonder if Owen Wijndal comes.
Ajax want 30m for Alvarez (I'd take 20+) and have put huge numbers on Timber/Antony. I'm curious if Schreuder doesn't rate him and wants a better passer in that position. At least that's what I'd like. I hate to say this but I think Antony will force his way out. I'm hoping we can get at least 50+ for him. Timber (I think) will stay. Bergwijn number seems to be 22-25. Probably set a record just edging out Haller fee. I agree @richsavare... we need a GK. LB is an interesting situation too. Could get a small fee for Nico or let him play out contract/leave on a free next year. I'd rather get the fee then buy Wijndal (to sell in 2-3 years).
and right on cue... This guy will force his way out. Hopefully we can fleece Man U and have enough time to buy a replacement. Antony situation. Manchester United are really interested and already had contacts to explore potential deal - not the only club, but with ten Hag pushing. 🇧🇷 #MUFCBeen told player’s camp now asking Ajax to listen to bids for Antony this summer, even if price tag will be high. pic.twitter.com/OELd3cxASi— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2022
https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuw...und-haalt-nog-een-speler-op-in-amsterdam.html What a disgrace this is.
It's not something we don't do ourselfs. Ajax picked up the Timber brothers from Feyenoord. PSV picked up Madueke from England. Feyenoord has picked some from PSV and AZ this window etc. Edit: I wonder what's the situation with that 16 yo AZ kid that went to BVB a few years ago with Raiola. If there's a difference in outcome compared to those moving to the epl clubs.
Training camp opened yesterday. Because of the winter WC, the season begins in early August. 29 players, most Jong Ajax and a smattering of youth players were in camp (see below). The players who were on international teams are still on holiday. It looks like Ajax are not pursuing a fourth GK and will stay with Pasveer, Steks and Gorter. Jong Ajax keepter Setford had wrist surgery and is out until December. I still have not seen a firm report that the Bergwijn transfer has been fully agreed to. Ajax seem also to be going after AZ's Wijndal to play LB. There are still teams after Antony and Martinez but Ajax does not need to sell and will need to have high transfer fees for the duo. Timber looks to be staying for another year. I would like to see a contract extension and release clause for him though Dutch teams don't normally have release clauses in contracts AFAIK. Remko Pasveer Jay Gorter Maarten Stekelenburg Perr Schuurs Sean Klaiber Kik Pierie Lisandro Magallán Mohamed Ihattaren Hassane Bandé Youri Regeer Kian Fitz–Jim Sontje Hansen Naci Ünüvar Youri Baas Ar'jany Martha Patrickson Delgado Anass Salah-Eddine Christian Rasmussen Amourricho van Axel Dongen Terrence Douglas Donny Warmerdam Giovanni Olivier Aertssen Tristan Gooijer Eskild Dall Jayden Banel Jay Enem Sten Kremers Julian Brandes
It was from Arsenal and not really €40M; it included performance bonus stuff. Apparently Ajax told them come in with €50M firm and we 'may' consider it.
Watched yesterday's game against a third tier German club. It's early days of course and the opponents were sub par but nonetheless first half lineup showed some decent football. Good performance by Pierie, Fitz-Jim, Ihattaren, Hansen, Unuvar. Hope new coach will give them enough playing time with the first team. Next fixture is coming Saturday against Paderborn.
Winjdal deal looks done. Good. Fix that position and he will sell for a bigger fee as long as he continues to play for the NT. I think he's good enough for Ajax. Not the reward of a Nico (if we sold him at the right time vs. holding) but a solid player who fixes a major issue. They really need to sign a GK now. You cannot rely on two old as hell GKs (one of which is already hurt).
Ajax are playing a friendly with SC Paderborn. Ihatteran with two goals in the first half to give Ajax a 2-1 lead. Second goal was a great free kick. Defense looks mediocre. Magallan is really not good and I hope some team comes after him. Perie was OK but I wonder if he is strong enough. Fitz-Jim is decent as the DM but his passing is too soft. Unuvar is at 10 today and is quite active.
The second half was pretty bad. Ajax subbed in everyone and most of the players were either Jong Ajax or U-19 players. They were easily out muscled on the ball and committed lots of awful turnovers that led to four goals by Paderborn. The only good thing is that Gorter got a real work out and made some very nice saves. Ajax had only one shot on goal, a late attempt by Martha that was easily saved. Obviously, none of the players are ready for Ajax 1. Here is the lineups with the substitutions. Gorter; Klaiber (46' Gooijer), Magallán (46' Aertssen), Pierie (60' Warmerdam), Baas (46' Salah-Eddine); Regeer (60' Brandes), Ünüvar (46' Giovanni), Fitz-Jim (46' Delgado); Ihattaren (60' Dall), Rasmussen (60' Enem), Banel (46' Martha).
That's what these matches are ment for. Get the newbees, whether youth or incoming transfers, the taste of what's needed and build up.
Yes, I agree. Ajax were forced into this because of all the international players who are still on holiday. I don't know what Ajax will look like. Leipzig want €25M for Brobbey who is only worth €10M if that. Martinez will probably go to Arsenal if they meet Ajax €50M price tag. Antony is still resting his foot so I don't know if anyone will take a chance on him right now.
The 2nd half U-19 players. Gorter, Perie (if he stays), Reege, Unuvar, and Ihattaren are all first team players. If Antony leaves, Ihattaren may end up as the starting RW.
25M for Brobbey is just a total joke. I agree-- worth at most 10m. I read Ajax was offering 15. RBL is notoriously stingy. I bet this goes down the wire. I hope we start looking elsewhere for a forward. Or maybe even just go for a back-up type FW and play Tadic as the starting 9. This whole situation is just so dumb and caused by Brobbey himself. Man U just came in with a 45+5 bid for Martinez. Lisandro might be my favorite current Ajax player but 50m for him is legit insanity and Ajax should jump on that. I think Antony is gone. Reading the tea leaves and how/where the rumors are coming out about him, his agents are trying to get him to Man U or another spot. Losing him would really hurt.
Brobbey made a terrible decision to leave in the first place. Of course Leipzig will attempt to drive the price up. I think he has great potential but it’s truly a mess on the transfer market with him. I also read Zirkzee has been rumored as well. I’m all for young Dutch players and think he could become a top player also. If I was to guess Martinez will likely go as well. Antony I doubt will move if what I read is true about ManU not willing to pay 70-80 million Euros. Still need to find a better GK. I read that Schreuder is happy with his 3 but I cannot believe that whatsoever.
Agreed on GK... We need one badly. I don't think we will get 70-80m for Antony. I just think that situation is going to get ugly if he doesn't get a transfer. Just my gut based off of watching him. I'm curious about RB as well. Please no Klaiber. Rensch was not impressive IMO. Timber is much better centrally (I really think he should flip positions with Alvarez if both stay). I thought this would be a really active, fascinating window and it looks like it will be.
Gorter made some world class saves yesterday playing behind a team in the 2nd half that was defensively awful. He is the same age as Cillessen when the latter became the Ajax #1. It's too bad that youth keeper Setford had wrist surgery as he is a really fine prospect and was called up to the senior team when Pasveer and Steklenburg were both out.
It's looking more and more like Martinez will be leaving. Fabrizio Romano who seems to know all about these things is reporting that the Ajax defender wants to move to the EPL. Ajax need to hold firm to the €50M up front payment for this to happen. If this happens, it looks like Blind, Schuurs, and Timber are the back three defenders that we are left with. Life is tough in the low TV money leagues.
I like Gorter-- I don't think he's ready. Hopefully I am wrong. I'm just very concerned with an always hurt 39 yo and a hurt last year 38 yo going into the year as the main options. Last year we literally ran out of GK. Losing Martinez would really stink. But €50M is more than fair. I just hope this gets resolved sooner rather than later (same with Antony) so we can buy some replacements. Schuurs (by default) might be very important this year. The defensive options are really thin right now.