Transfer Deadline Day

All I can say is 'WOW' to the work and the deals and nearly deals that Ajax boss Franck de Boar tried to get done. Ajax had a transfer deadline day like no other. There were deals that could have been done but wasn't done. Deals that Ajax themselves terminated at the last minute and a few deals where established stars did not leave when i looked like they would so its better to give a timeline overview. Dutch clubs have until 11pm


9am, Franck de Boar arrived at The Johan Cruijff Arena for what might be a busy transfer deadline day. Ajax were featured on Sky Sports News heavily from 9am.


Will Foden move to Ajax on loan, will Man City let him?

There is news coming in that Manchester City are considering a loan offer for their English attacking midfielder Phil Foden. It is understood that Ajax have offered to pay the Foden's wages and pay around £4m for the privledge. More on this when we get it. It is also being reported that Ajax are preparing a bid for Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope with the fee being suggested of around £23,000,000. It is understood that Burnley find this way short of there valuation of around £38,000,000. Pope, capped once by England has only played 39 games in just 4 seasons at The Clarets and it is understood that de Boar appears to be a great admirer of the keeper.


Pope is going to be a surprise addition to Ajax on this transfer deadline day?

10.15, Burnley have rejected Ajax's £23,000,000 bid stating that Pope is not for sale. Director of Football at Ajax, Marc Overmars has stated the club will now look elsewhere.

The question is where will they look. It is understood that Dinamo Zagreb's keeper, Dominik Livakovic is the man that Ajax now would like to bring in. It is clear the player wants to go and the club have said if a deal can be reached that the Croat keeper will move to the club.


de Boar has changed target to the talented Croatian stopper

11.30, There is some astonishing news coming in to us here at Sky Sports News that Ajax have bid £41,000,000 for Real Madrid outcast James Rodrigues and it is understood that Real Madrid will cover an equally astonishing £100,000 a week in wages. we have intelligence to say this deal will get completed before the deadline and James is on his way to Holland as we speak to thrash out personal terms on the move.

Ajax have bid £41,000,000 for the midfield maestro and this was accepted

11.45, Ajax have submitted a offer for Lazio central defender Nicolo Armini thought to be worth around £13,250,000. The defender has represented Argentina under 21's and under 19 level. Nicolo has played for Lazio once although the fee seems expensive it is understood that Marc Overmars is a big fan of the central defender where Armini looks like he might go straight into the first team.

3pm, James Rodrigues has landed in Amsterdam and is on his way to the stadium, and it is also understood that Manchester United have bid £53,000,000 for Donny Van de Beek which Ajax are thought to have accepted. This would pave the way for James Rodrigues to sign for the Amsterdam club, it is thought he is in Amsterdam to discuss terms which included Real Madrid paying £100,000 a week of his wages that he accepts. There is still a long way to go with this as you feel that if Van de Beek doesn't leave, James might not sign.

3.30pm Dominik Livakovic is on his way to Amsterdam as a fee has been agreed thought to be in the region of 12,000,000 which is a lot less than what Ajax would have paid for Burnly keep Nick Pope. Livakovic is thought to want to join and Ajax believe he will be in Holland by 6pm. Van de Beek is at a hotel in Holland talking to Manchester United at the moment.

4.12 It is our understanding that Ajax are having second thoughts over the James Rodrigues move this comes after word got out on popular forum Fmscout.com over the projected 'swap' that would be Van de Beek moving and Rodrigues coming in with one unnamed individual claiming it was 'madness' and that Van de Beek 'looks better and plays better than the real Madrid castoff'. It is understood that Ajax checked out the instagram posts from Ajax fans and this is why they are reconsidering there options. More on this remarkable story later.

5pm JAMES DEAL IS OFF, VAN DE BEEK DEAL IS OFF You heard it here first, We new the James deal was being reconsidered but for it to be reconsidered because of a football forum specialising in football manager of all places and that then prompted them to check social media as it was quick to see that £41,000,000 was a lot of money for a player the fans are not keen on having. On the announcement it was announced that Donny Van de Beek was not leaving either and was asked to leave negotiations with Manchester United and return back to Ajax. It is understood that Donny Van de Beek did not want to leave this window anyway.

6pm Dominik Livakovic has arrived in Amsterdam to discuss personal terms which it is rumoured will not take very long at all. The player will have to pass a medical too but again Ajax do not think this is going to be a problem

6.10pm It is understood that Nicolo Armini is in Amsterdam to discuss terms with Ajax also after the bid got accepted by Lazio of around £13,250,000. Armini is on his way to the stadium now. There could still be one more arrival as Ajax have NOT given up hope on signing Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden on loan. It is understood though that Manchester City are looking for a big fee just to loan the Englishman but time will tell.

7pm Dominik Livakovic has signed for Ajax on a 4 year contract worth £32,000 per week it is understood he will be back up to Andre Onana, who has let in just three goals in 5 games this season, hopefully we get to talk to the Croatian in due course.

8.35pm FODEN MOVE is off! Ajax's move to bring Foden in on loan has disappeared as Man City told Ajax to forget about it. That is all we have off Ajax.


Race against time for Armini deal to go through

9.15pm Nicolas Armini has finally arrived in Holland to discuss personal terms over a move to Ajax. This is going to be a tight turnaround with Armini looking to agree personal terms and complete a medical and sign on the dotted line. It is safe to say this is the deal that Ajax are now concentrating on. Armini is on his way so Ajax fans keep faith and stick with us and we will have news on this soon.

10pm It is understood that Nicolas Armini has now arrived into the stadium and it appears likely that he has already agrees a £4,900 a week contract with Ajax and now just has to pass a medical. Ajax have 1 hour to pass the medical.

10.52 Nicolas Armini has passed his medical and signed for Ajax! it is understood he will go straight into the Ajax squad and the fee is reported to be £13,250,000 and all deals are now complete

The Team Must Gel

It has been a busy Summer for Ajax and as the window shut. Ajax losing players like Matthijs de Ligt for £85,000,000, Frankie de Jong for £75,000,000 and Kasper Dolberg for £20,000,000. Ajax did replace these players with the likes of Quincy Promes, Slobadan Rajkovic, Marcos Rojo, Jack Grealish and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Where will the new signings fit in if anywhere? We ask Paul Merson, Ruud Gullit and Charlie Nicholas for there opinions and why. All three have gone with the 4-2-3-1 but there is a difference of opinion.

Paul Merson

I have gone with some new signings by last year's semi-finalists and included Jack Grealish, Marcos Rojo and Nicolo Armini.

Onana is the keeper with new signing Nicolo Armini and Marcos Rojo the centre backs in the back four with Sergino Dest and Nicolas Tagliafico. I have picked Armini because he really is a upcoming talent and with Ajax they like to play these youngsters and tend to understand how to get the best out of these players. In Marcos Rojo you have an experienced head next to Nicolo to mentor him and help him progress.

I went with Van de Beek in the deep lying playmaker role because Ajax have done amazing to hold on to the midfielder who will no doubt have interest in January so Ajax need to make sure they progress in the Champions League. I have chosen Razvan Marin as his partner, he is a new signing and is very, very assured on the ball. I have Dusan Tadic up front, I did think about Youssef En-Nesyri but Tadic last season was out of this world for Ajax and with the three in behind him of Jack Grealish, Siem De Jong and Ziyech, who I think is the best of the three by the way then Ajax have an amazing front line and in my view one of the best defences in Europe.

Ruud Gullit

Well Paul I agree with aspects of your team but you are missing other amazing younger players that could do just as good of a job, generate Ajax even more money and then they can reinvest further in the team.


I would also start with Onana in goal, I thought about going with the Croatian Dominic Livakovic. In my view both keepers are excellent but Onana could mentor Livakovic but I expect Livakovic to be the number 1 choice come next season.
I went for a youthful back four in Tagliafico and Dest on the wings, new signing Nicolo Armini at centre back but not with a Rajkovic or Rojo but Kik Pierie. Pierie is a great defender and was signed by Heerenveen and played 62 times in two seasons for the Dutch side. These two centre backs are the future of Ajax and could put Dutch football back on the map.
The five in midfield is Ryan Gravenberch, Van de Beek in the centre of midfield. Gravenberch is just 17 years old and has a bright future ahead of him, he compliments 22 year old Donny Van de Beek well. I have left Hakim Ziyech out because in Quincy Promes, Ajax have spent £15,750,000 on a 27 year old which they don't do very often do so they must start him along with Siem De Jong playing just in behind new signing En-Nesryi. En-Nesryi has been absolutely brilliant since joining Ajax and already has 4 goals in 5 games in all competitions this season. De Boar took a gamble with En-Nesyri and I believe he will flourish here. Jack Grealish has to be in as well just for the fouls that he wins and with VAR in use in Holland Grealish is going to win a lot of free kicks.

Charlie Nicolas

I have gone a bit different for my starting XI. I would play Grealish in the center of midfield and would go with a younger defence.

I would put the young Croatian Livakovic in goal because he can not have been signed to sit on the bench. I actually think that Ajax should have signed Nick Pope but they went with there signing youngsters philosophy so in my view they should play him. I would go with Argentine Tagliafico and Morrocan Noussair Mazraoui on the wings with new signing Nicolo Armini at centre back alongside journeyman Slobadan Rajkovic. When Ajax signed Rajkovic a lot of people said who? He has been around a bit but at one point Chelsea spent £5,500,000 on the player although never playing for them. He has experience in Holland and that is what De Boar was looking for.
I would go Razvat Marin and Grealish in central midfield but Gravenberch would be rotated in with Marin. Pione Sisto on the left, Hakim Ziyach in the central attacking midfield role, you just can not leave him out based on form. I would also play 22 year old Brazilian David Neres. In 2016 Ajax paid £15,000,000 to SPO for the talented winger and played 69 times in 3 seasons for the Dutch side. In 2017/18 he scored 14 times and seems to be the forgotten man. I truly believe that Quincy Promes is no improvement on David Neres and he is good enough for this squad. I would play En-Nesryi up front but rotate him with Tadic and use Huntelaar as an impact sub.

Frank: We MUST Improve? (Your having a laugh!)

de Boar Blows

On the back of the disappointed loss to Young Boys in the Champions League one reporter asked Frank de Boar one simple question. Why is your team struggling to score goals, hence losing to a side that had not won a Champions league game since 2018? and it was a question that de Boar then went on to explain and explain and explain and....you get the picture.

We are not struggling to score goals sir answered a bewildered de Boar. We have scored 20 goals in 7 games and only conceded 10 goals in all competitions. I don't understand it with you media people. Young Boys had to come through qualifying campaigns just like we did, just like PSV did and just like Celtic did. What makes it a given that we are going to defeat them. Let me tell you although we were not at our best, they were outstanding! There are not many teams that will come to us and play with that sort of attacking flair and pace. So for you to say to me why are we struggling to score, I believe you should be asking if I expected Young boys to come and perform like that?

In the first half we had 3 shots on goal overall and Young Boys had 10 shots. There was a right midfielder called Nicolas Ngamaleu and he was outstanding! He ran that midfield and bossed it and his range of passing was absolutely amazing and the ball that he played through to Guillaume Hoarau was brilliant which then was took around the keeper and slotted into the net.
NO ONE ASKS ABOUT THE GAME, they just wanna know why Ajax played badly... Well we didn't we were defeated by the better team on the day. I think people need to realise that this is a team that's developing and still gelling together. We threw everything at them in the second half and they threw everything in front of our shooting. I thought Naci, Jack and Quincy all did amazing for us in the second half.
Let me tell you, if I ever get asked a question like that again, I will not attend these press conferences! Just because we lose it does not mean that we have played badly.

Ajax's next Champions League match is against Liverpool

September: What Month: One Blip!

Two goals in one game this month! Ziyech won the game by himself

Ajax only played four games this month and in the four games Ajax scored 10 goals and had two clean sheets. It was the month of 16 year old Naci Unuvar. The versatile attacking winger scored three goals and set up two more this month as Ajax smashed five past AZ, three past VVV-Venlo and scored two against Haracles.


This was the first game where Jack Grealish was rested (according to Dutch papers) or dropped (according to British papers) and it worked as it was 16 year old Naci Unuvar who replaced the Englishman. There was a couple of players who stood out here but straight from the kick off Ziyach hit a long ball through to the speeder young winger Naci to power past Dutch keeper Bizot. AZ never got into the game and Ajax doubled there lead through Quincy Promes in the 18th minute. Promes then got injured and Grealish cam on to play on the right wing and it worked a treat as he went about proving a point to de Boar for leaving him out. Ajax peppered AZ's goal for the whole match. there persistence paid off when a Unuvar cross hit Jonas Svensson to make it 3-0. Ajax then drove in a corner for the new arrival Nicolo Armini to head into the net, it was referred to VAR but the goal stood. Unuvar finished the rout off.

Then came the match against Young Boys which de Boar had his say after the match but look, Young Boys were absolutely amazing. They were full of attacking flair and inspiration and fully deserved there 1-0 win. Is it anything for Ajax to worry about yet? No, they are more than capable of taking points off Liverpool and are better that Salzberg and Young Boys.

Ajax then took on Heracles and this was the match where it was Hakim Ziyech won the game. The second came from Jack Grealish steaming through into the box and it looked like he was fouled, it wasn't given until the referee consulted the pitch side screens that the penalty was rightly given. Ziyech put it away to make it 2-0. Before the controversial goal though, Ziyech picked up the ball just outside the centre circle and he drove past 2 players, laid the ball off to Gravenberch, who backheeled it to Sisto and then first time crossed the ball to the running Ziyech to head home for 1-0.


Grealish hit a scorcher in the win at VVV

Ajax finished the month off with a routine 3-1 victory against VVV-Venlo. This was the game where Jack Grealish put in a man of the match performance where he played alongside Donny an de Beek in a 4-2-4 formation. Edson Alvarez partner Nicolo Armini in defence for the first time. Ajax have made a habit of scoring in the first 20 minutes but Jack Grealish's goal was reminiscent of his Villa days. He pick the loose ball up 20 yards out and just rifled it into the top corner for 1-0. It is difficult to fit Grealish and Unuvar into the same team but de Boar seems to be finding his feet now with personnel. Stefan Schafer scored an own gaol and then 16 year old Naci Unuvar finished the scoring off for Ajax in what can only be described as a fantastic month for the squad.

Eredivisie Table

Ajax have took a 4 point lead but not from PSV as each year has proven. Heerenveen are the team 4 points behind Ajax. Heerenveen are predicted to finish 7th this season and are 25-1 to win the title. A shout out to ADO Den Haag and previous Champions FC Twente who are 4th and 5th respectively. the shock at the moment is Vitesse who are rock bottom with one victory.

Champions League

Its been a difficult start for Ajax in a tough group but all is not lost. Liverpool looked absolutely amazing.

Player Of The Month

Unuvar has signed a professional contract at Ajax stopping the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal poaching him
Naci Unuvar has been nothing short of spectacular this month. The attacking midfielder has so many skills and tricks but the boy can score (3 goals in 4 games this month) and can set up goals too (set up 2 goals in 4 games) and claimed 2 player of the match awards. He HAS signed a deal to turn professional which means the premier league can not poach the midfielder on the cheap which puts Ajax in such a good position.