Ajax are very comfortable negotiating transfers with large European clubs. That’s why they’re making life hard for Barcelona and Tottenham at the moment.
This isn’t the first time Ajax have been blessed with a world-class talent that’s drawing interest from big European clubs. Frenkie de Jong is simply the latest in a long line of blue chip youngsters for the Dutch club. That’s precisely why Ajax officials are working hard to drive up the potential transfer fee for their young midfielder.
Reports from Spain claim Spurs saw a £50 million bid for de Jong rejected by Ajax this week. That news shouldn’t surprise anyone. There’s no sense in accepting the best bid that comes along in the middle of September. De Jong’s price will only skyrocket as the January transfer window approaches.
Resisting all of Tottenham’s approaches for de Jong makes particular since given Barcelona’s interest. If the Catalan giants really decide de Jong is a player they can build their future midfield around, they won’t let money stand in the way of bringing him to Spain. It’s not inconceivable that Barcelona could end up paying upwards of £80 million for the two-way midfielder.
There’s really no downside to this strategy for Ajax. The worst case scenario for the club would be that de Jong’s firm dips and he ends up staying put. That’s another excellent outcome as far as club officials are concerned. They don’t want to part ways with de Jong, but they understand the financial realities at play. It just doesn’t make any sense for Ajax to turn down a massive bid that would offer one of their players a chance to progress in their career.
The best thing that can happen for Ajax is that the interest from Barcelona and Tottenham will cause other European powers to enter the race. A bidding war between those two clubs would be good, but adding someone like Manchester City or Juventus to the race could turn it into a financial windfall for the club. Ideally for Ajax, the sale of de Jong could give the club money to hold on to the rest of their stars.
Don’t expect Ajax to start seriously negotiating anything about de Jong until late December at the earliest. Making a deal now will only cost the club millions of pounds. Ajax officials are savvy enough to understand that.