Summer transfer window.

[Zatara]

We're watching Kees Smit.

Meant to he a rising star and the next De Bruyne / De Jong depending on which report you read.

Linked to every major club on the planet.

I'd say it seems like were after a top young centre mid with him and Mateus Fernandes linked.

Didnt you say before we were after a 'different profile' midfielder?

He and Fernandes are both that.

Oh I definitely believe we'll be watching him. Will be watching him for years to come probably. Just won't be in royal blue I'm afraid.

And chips with mayo. Koeman really should have started a Dutch snackbar in Liverpool, instead of managing us. The man understands his food!

Depends as Fernandes isnt cheap either with West Ham signing him for £42mil.

I can’t get past how good Davy Klaassen was at Ajax, and how bad he was for us

I said before we signed him that it made no sense.

It’s a name that’s been banded about for yonks I feel and every now and then I see his name pop up and he’s getting a goal or an assist

Charles De Ketelaere anyone?

Ive mentioned him in the past and even said again that we should get him when everyone wrote him off after his first year in Italy.

Quality player.

What are the chances of us being interested in Ethan Nwaneri, who is reportedly available this summer?

Both him and Myles Lewis-Skelly linked in the past couple of months.

Frenkie de Jong says hi

It's basically all about a good scouting network. Especially with the lesser leagues, like the Dutch or Belgium competitions. I do think players leave their clubs in those leagues way too early, especially if they join the elite clubs in Europe. They would benefit from more playing time if they would have stayed a bit longer. Take Gravenberch for example. He always was an exceptional talent but he left Ajax too soon and spend some time warming the bench at Bayern. Would be better for players and the league if they would stay a bit longer. Alas, the lure of money and fame is way too big for a lot of them at such a young age.

Gravenberch looked like he'd become a star and like you say, shouldnt have gone to Bayern.

With Smit you could also say that a move to a club like Bayern wouldnt be a good idea.

Thats where we could act as a stepping stone OR they help to push us up into a consistent top 4 side over a few years.

Reminds me a bit of when Guimaraes went to Lyon then Newcastle. Depends where we can offer the player value.

 

[RomanReigns]

Also I never understood why we bought Klaassen. He never was an exceptional talent. He is a hard worker and was a good player for the Dutch league but he just lacks the pure quality/physique for the PL.

he had generated a bit of buzz that summer

he was ajax captain

he had scored 14 league goals for ajax

he scored 6 goals in europe and helped ajax reach the europa league final

we took a punt thinking he could be something special

 

[Swartzy]

Ismael Saibari from PSV might be worth looking into. By far their best player. Being an Ajaxfan I certainly wouldn't mind to see him out of Eindhoven.

Ismael Saibari - Player profile 25/26

Ismael Saibari, 25, from Morocco ➤ PSV Eindhoven, since 2022 ➤ Attacking Midfield ➤ Market value: €32.00m ➤ * 28/01/2001 in Terrassa, Spain

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

25

You're selling him to wrong forum mate..

 

[Swartzy]

What are the chances of us being interested in Ethan Nwaneri, who is reportedly available this summer?

Arsenal only loaned him to Marseille because of De Zerbi and then he left the building.
Arteta actually said the move was because of how well De Zerbi works with young players.

That sounds more future planning than shop window.

But who Knows

 

[h8kurdt]

we took a punt thinking he could be something special

And to think how many times we've done that recently and fallen flat on our faces.

 

[Evermaarton]

he had generated a bit of buzz that summer

he was ajax captain

he had scored 14 league goals for ajax

he scored 6 goals in europe and helped ajax reach the europa league final

we took a punt thinking he could be something special

True. He still has a nose for the goal (he is called Mister 1-0 at Ajax) and his numbers were quite good.

Having said that, he never was a spectacular footballplayer. I have seen him play loads of times. Useful for Ajax but that's it. And every Ajaxfan at the JC Arena could have pointed that out. We have been spoiled in Amsterdam with some very gracious players and some of the biggest talents football has seen. Klaassen is, and always was, very, very low on that line. He doesn't have very good vision, not very technical and he doesn't have the physique to stand out in the PL. Just a solid performer for Ajax at the time. Nothing more, noting less. The scouts at Everton should have done their homework better.

P.S. I love Klaassen at Ajax because he loves the club and always puts a shift in (maybe a bit like Beto ).

 

[Evermaarton]

25

You're selling him to wrong forum mate..

He is coming into his prime. Standout player this season for a PSV side that was cruising to the title. Bosz (PSV manager) said last week he is ready for the next step and that he would be a very good fit for the PL. He even said Saibari would cost at least € 70 mil, as a reference and joke to AZs valuation of Kees Smit. No idea what he would really cost though.

 

[Swartzy]

He is coming into his prime. Standout player this season for a PSV side that was cruising to the title. Bosz (PSV manager) said last week he is ready for the next step and that he would be a very good fit for the PL. He even said Saibari would cost at least € 70 mil, as a reference and joke to AZs valuation of Kees Smit. Nonidea what he would really cost though.

Yeah for me I wouldn't have any complaints at that age. If it's a realistic signing and he can walk in and improve us, then I'm for it..
I can't say I know a lot about the lad though so I can't really offer any thoughts on his ability..

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Didnt you say before we were after a 'different profile' midfielder?

Ey Moyes is prioritising a powerful no6 in midfield.

That being said as you well know,you always want to be in the mix for top talent

 

[mikel_88]

Fernandes should been looked at in the summer , if do go down can see them looking for a big fee for him. Same with the dutch lad dont mind if going for them if a good price but far to much of a risk for us at that price. They see prem teams and put on the tax, would prefer joa gomes at wolves instead of fernandes is the better player imo

 

[oglop44]

Ey Moyes is prioritising a powerful no6 in midfield.

Interesting info! On paper you might say that midfield is one of our stronger positions at the moment, in terms of numbers at least.

Replacing Gana with a powerful midfield presence sounds like a good plan to me although it does raise questions about Rohl and Iroegbunam

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Interesting info! On paper you might say that midfield is one of our stronger positions at the moment, in terms of numbers at least.

Replacing Gana with a powerful midfield presence sounds like a good plan to me although it does raise questions about Rohl and Iroegbunam

I actually prefer both further forwards.

 

[Zatara]

Ey Moyes is prioritising a powerful no6 in midfield.

That being said as you well know,you always want to be in the mix for top talent

Wasnt it Bobble who you said had alluded to Moyes wanting a physical 6?

Also mentions of a different kind of profile midfielder - cant remember if you said that or i saw it somewhere else.

Obviously Smit, Fernandes & El Mala are hugely talented young players.

Get 5th spot and we'll potentially have more cash to throw around.

Did you ever hear whether the £120mil available was including Rohls fee? Also whether thats the base amount with more for each european competition?

Fernandes should been looked at in the summer , if do go down can see them looking for a big fee for him. Same with the dutch lad dont mind if going for them if a good price but far to much of a risk for us at that price. They see prem teams and put on the tax, would prefer joa gomes at wolves instead of fernandes is the better player imo

They signed him for £42mil and I dont think we'd have signed him as well as Dibling + Rohl. It may also have impacted other players minutes as well.

Fernandes looks like becoming a box to box high energy all rounder. Smit should become an attacking midfield playmaker but also of course with the skillset to track back.

Obviously El Mala has been tenuously linked as well as well as Kofane too.

CM: Fernandes / Iroegbunam
CM: Garner / Armstrong
LW: Grealish / El Mala
ACM: KDH / Smit
RW: Ndiaye / Dibling
CF: Kofane / Beto / Barry


That would potentially our best ever transfer window before full backs.

I reckon Fernandes £42mil if West Ham go down, Smit probably £30-35mil.

 

[IrishBlue2022]

Can't wait to see who we buy with all this extra season ticket money.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Wasnt it Bobble who you said had alluded to Moyes wanting a physical 6?




Did you ever hear whether the £120mil available was including Rohls fee? Also whether thats the base amount with more for each european competition?

I don't know mate,I don't follow him.


We don't go that in depth,he told me how much we had,and I said "sound" and then I asked him what he was having for his tea.

Surely you must appreciate some people aren't as locked in as your good self ha.