Tag: Eredivise

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Chelsea and PSV agree deal for Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke

Mueez Ajao

– Chelsea are now closing in on another signing and January after it was revealed today by a top Dutch journalist that’s the Blue’s would definitely sign Noni Madueke.

– Talks have been ongoing for the last few weeks and a deal is finally close after PSV rejected an initial £26.5million bid from Chelsea last week.

– Negotiations are described as advanced and there is now a real confidence that Noni Madueke will join Chelsea in the next day or two.

Also Read: Chelsea deal for Mudryk to send £22m for Ukraine war

– According to Fabrizio Romano, PSV will definitely sell Noni Madueke to Chelsea. The deal is now very close to completion.

– Chelsea will pay around €40million for Madueke. He is a player largely admired internally at the club and things have moved extremely quickly today to reach this stage of negotiations.

– Madueke’s name came out of nowhere in terms of being linked with Chelsea a few weeks ago, but he now seems to have become a priority.

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OFFICIAL: Liverpool confirm signing of PSV star Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Liverpool have signed forward Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

– Phenomenal reported that the transfer fee is around £37 million ($45m). PSV did not disclose the value of the deal, but general manager Marcel Brands said it will be a “record transfer” for the club.

– Liverpool beat Manchester United to the signing of Gakpo. United boss Erik ten Hag was keen to sign the Netherlands international as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club in November.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: PSV reach agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Gakpo

– Gakpo, 23, emerged as a star of the World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals for the Netherlands before their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of eventual champions Argentina.

– The tournament came in the middle of a fruitful campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie for Gakpo. He contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 14 appearances for PSV this season. He also added three goals and two assists in five Europa League matches for the club.

– With Colombia international Luis Diaz facing an extended period on the sidelines for a knee injury he aggravated during a midseason training break in Dubai, Liverpool stepped up their pursuit to sign Gakpo in the January window.

– Leeds United and Southampton targeted a transfer for the left-sided forward last summer, and United boss Ten Hag persuaded the club to consider a move for the player late in the summer window.

– It is the second time within a year that Liverpool beat United to a signing, after they also pipped the Old Trafford club to the signing of Darwin Nunez in the summer.

Cody Gakpo
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Ex-Man Utd defender Blind terminates Ajax contract six months early

Daley Blind

Mueez Ajao

– Daley Blind will leave Ajax after agreeing to terminate his contract six months early, leaving the player as a free agent, the Eredivisie club announced on Tuesday.

– Blind, 32, made his debut for Ajax in 2008 and, after a four-season stint in the Premier League with Manchester United, returned to Amsterdam in 2018 to win Dutch league titles in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

– “I hope he can find another club to end his successful career with. Together with Daley, we have decided on a match in the Arena where he can say a proper goodbye to the supporters,” Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar said.

Also Read: Napoli put five past Ajax in Amsterdam

– The 32-year-old won seven titles with Ajax, making 333 appearances, scoring 13 goals and contributing 21 assists.

– Blind played almost every minute of Netherlands run to the quarterfinals of this year’s World Cup in Qatar, scoring in their round-of-16 win over the United States.

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OFFICIAL: PSV reach agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Liverpool have beaten Manchester United in the race to sign winger Cody Gakpo after agreeing a deal with PSV, the Dutch side announced on Monday.

– Sources have told that the fee of the deal is around £37 million and that the sides are close to finalising his arrival in the January transfer window. PSV did not disclose the value of the deal, but general manager Marcel Brands said it will be a “record transfer” for the club.

– The Dutch club said in a statement: “PSV and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer.”

Also Read: Liverpool kick off project restart with win on Boxing day in Villa

– Gakpo, 23, emerged as a star of the World Cup in Qatar by scoring three goals for the Netherlands before their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of eventual champions Argentina.

– With Colombia international Luis Diaz facing an extended period on the sideline after aggravating a knee injury during a midseason training break in Dubai, Liverpool have accelerated attempts to bolster their forward line by moving for Gakpo.

– The left-sided forward was a top target for Leeds and Southampton during the summer, and United manager Erik ten Hag persuaded the Old Trafford club to consider a move for the player late in the summer window.

– United had been eyeing a renewed move for Gakpo in January after the club’s decision to cancel Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract in November.

– But having beaten United to the signing of Darwin Nunez in June, Liverpool are now set to do the same again by sealing a move for Gakpo when the winter transfer window opens on Sunday, Jan 1.

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OFFICIAL: Antony joins Man United from Ajax

Antony

Mueez Ajao

– Manchester United have signed Brazil winger Antony from Ajax for an initial fee of 95m euros (£82m).

– The deal, which includes a potential 5m euros (£4.3m) of add-ons, is the fourth most expensive signing in Premier League history.

– The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 2027, with the option of an additional year.

Also Read: BREAKING: Man United agree fee to sign Antony from Ajax

– “This is an incredible moment in my career to join one of the most iconic clubs in the world,” said Antony.

– “I’m thankful to everyone who has believed in me, especially my family, and all my coaches and team-mates, because I could not have got here without them.

– “Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.”

– Antony scored 24 goals and provided 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax. He joined the Dutch champions from Sao Paulo in 2020 and played under Ten Hag.

Erik Ten Hag and Antony

– He netted seven goals in 11 Champions League appearances for Ajax and scored twice in nine appearances for Brazil since making his debut in October 2021.

– Manchester United’s record transfer fee is £89m, which they paid out to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in August 2016.

– The attacker becomes United’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of his former Ajax team-mate and defender Lisandro Martinez, midfielder Casemiro from Real Madrid, full-back Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord and playmaker Christian Eriksen on a free transfer.

– United have spent more than £210m in this transfer window to back new boss Ten Hag, while several players such as Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Edinson Cavani and Andreas Pereira have left.

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BREAKING: Man United agree fee to sign Antony from Ajax

Anthony

Mueez Ajao

– Manchester United have agreed a fee to sign winger Antony from Ajax, it was confirmed Tuesday.

– Sources told that the deal is worth an initial €95 million with another €5m in add-ons, which will make it the second-most-expensive transfer in United’s history behind Paul Pogba, who joined from Juventus for a then-world-record £89.3m (€105m) in 2016.

– The deal is subject to a medical, player terms being finalised and international clearance.

Also Read: Ajax reject Man United’s bumper bid for Anthony

– Antony will be reunited with his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag, who will complete his fifth signing of the summer after bringing in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro.

Lisandro Martinez and Anthony
Anthony and Lisandro Martinez

– The 22-year-old will give United another option in attack after Anthony Martial suffered an Achilles tendon injury in the 2-1 win against Liverpool last week.

– Antony signed for Ajax from Sao Paulo in 2020 and has made 82 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, scoring 25 goals.

– He has also been capped nine times for Brazil, scoring twice.

– Ten Hag’s side have responded to back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford with victories against Liverpool and Southampton, lifting them off the bottom of the Premier League table.

– This is the statement signing Erik ten Hag has been wanting to make all summer – and the fee underlines how keen United were to satisfy their new manager before Thursday’s deadline closes.

– Predominately left-footed, Antony likes to cut in off the right flank. He has exceptional pace, an ability to create chances from nothing and a willingness to work hard.

– In a sense, he is very much like the players who already occupy the wide positions at United.

– But it is clear Ten Hag wants greater depth and higher quality. He has already worked out that – as a collective – the players he inherited were not good enough.

– The big question is whether Antony’s arrival will trigger a change of system – or put someone’s place under threat, or both.

– And, as ever, debate will be around Ronaldo and how he fits in a team which has even more pace than before.

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BREAKING: Man United reach agreement with Ajax to sign Antony

Anthony

Mueez Ajao

– Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal for Ajax winger Antony.

– Negotiations between the clubs have progressed well over the weekend and there is now confidence an agreement will be reached before the transfer deadline on Thursday.

– United have had bids of €80m and €90m rejected by Ajax — the latest on Friday — but the Dutch side have indicated they are willing to accept an offer of close to €99m.

Also Read: Ajax reject Man United’s bumper bid for Anthony

– Sources have told that the deal is not done, but a breakthrough in negotiations has significantly increased the likelihood of an agreement being reached in the remaining days of the window.

– Antony has made it clear he wants to leave Ajax to be reunited with his former manager Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

– Ten Hag is keen to bolster his forward line before the close of the window, particularly after Anthony Martial picked up an achilles injury.

– The France international missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring problem sustained during preseason.

– Antony would become United’s fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro.

– The winger, capped nine times by Brazil, scored 12 goals in 33 games for Ajax last season.

– He arrived in Amsterdam from Sao Paulo in 2020 for an initial €15m fee.

– The 22-year-old was left out of the Ajax squad for their 1-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam last weekend and also missed the fixture against Utrecht on Sunday, while United remained locked in talks with the Dutch champions.

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Ajax reject Man United’s bumper bid for Anthony

Anthony

Mueez Ajao

– Ajax have rejected Manchester United’s improved £76million bid for Brazilian winger Antony.

– The Dutch champions and coach Alfred Schreuder are insisting that the 22-year-old is not for sale despite the scale of the offer.

– Antony is desperate to join United, having trained on his own in recent days, and now hopes Ajax’s finance directors intervene, reasoning that such an offer may not come again.

Also Read: Man U willing to re-sign Depay before transfer deadline

– He and his representatives had been growing frustrated over the time it was taking United to make their improved bid as he hoped to be a United player by this weekend.

– However, Ajax are standing firm. They have been struggling to find a suitable replacement after Chelsea refused to sanction a loan deal for Hakim Ziyech, saying they preferred to sell for £37m.

– Ajax have discussed Fulham target Justin Kluivert at Roma and Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi but have still to agree on a main candidate.

– United are now considering whether to increase their offer with Antony’s camp believing £84m could be Ajax’s desired price. For now the player is refusing to train and will be left out of the squad to face Utrecht this weekend.

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Man United register interest in PSV winger Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Manchester United have registered their interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.

– Gakpo’s representatives have been alerted to United’s interest by recruitment staff at Old Trafford but the club have yet to submit a bid.

– Gakpo is valued at around £35 million by PSV, who are managed by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, and sources have told that they are unlikely to accept anything less for one of their star players.

Also Read: Man Utd in talks to sign Rabiot from Juventus

– The 23-year-old came through the club’s academy and scored 21 goals in 47 games last season. He has been capped seven times by the Netherlands, scoring twice.

– Sources added there is interest from other Premier League clubs in Gakpo, who scored twice in PSV’s 4-1 opening-day win against FC Emmen on Saturday, but that he would be keen to move to United if terms are agreed.

– United have turned their attention to Gakpo, who impressed manager Erik ten Hag while in charge at Ajax, after being priced out of a move for Ajax winger Antony and missing out on RB Salzburg forward Benjamin Sesko, who will join RB Leipzig next summer after his signing was announced on Tuesday.

– Meanwhile, United are closing in on the signing of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

– A fee of £15.5m rising to £19.5m has been provisionally agreed with the Serie A club and negotiations on personal terms are underway.

– Sources have told that United are pushing ahead with talks while remaining in the hunt for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.

– Sources added that Ten Hag called Rabiot to speak with him on Monday and the Juventus midfielder appreciated the conversation with the Dutchman.

– Centre-back Eric Bailly is hoping to make progress on his desire to leave Old Trafford later this week, sources added.

– Bailly was left in the stands for the 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Sunday and he is keen to seal a move away before the transfer window closes.

– Interest from Everton has cooled after they completed the loan signing of Conor Coady from Wolves but Sevilla, Monaco and West Ham United are all monitoring the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international.

– Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have all been told they are free to find other clubs before the end of the transfer window.

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Ajax ban fans from bringing signs into stadium asking players for shirts

Mueez Ajao

– Ajax have banned fans from bringing signs into the Johan Cruyff Arena asking players for their shirts after matches, the club have confirmed to the official supporters association.

– The club told the group that they had noticed an increasing number of such signs at games, mostly being held by children.

– Ajax said that it was no longer possible for the players to fulfil all the requests and when players walked by without handing over a shirt they were often criticised as arrogant.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Man Utd confirm the signing of Lisandro Martinez from Ajax

– The cardboard being used also posed a fire hazard, the Eredivisie side added, and several signs were confiscated on Saturday when the stadium hosted the season-opening Super Cup match between Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.