Brighton and Hove Albion are in talks to sign talented goalkeeper Kjell Scherpe from Eredivisie champions Ajax, as reported by the Algemeen Dagblad.
After the Amsterdam giants lost Andre Onana until February 2022 because of a 12-month doping ban, it was expected Ajax would retain Scherpen, even if he has fallen behind veteran Maarten Stekelenburg in Erik ten Hag’s pecking order.
But perhaps not.
21-year-old Scherpen has played only two league games in 2020/21 and hit the headlines for the wrong reasons a few weeks ago, committing a major blunder as Ajax were knocked out of the Europa League by Roma in the quarter-finals.
It’s fair to say the youngster has failed to build on the potential he showed at Emmen during his breakthrough 2018/19 campaign.
And with Ajax announcing another experienced shot-stopper in the shape of Vitesse Arnhem’s Remko Pasveer will arrive ahead of next season, Scherpen’s ill-fated spell in the Dutch capital is coming to a premature end.
AD reports Brighton are in talks over a deal that would see the Netherlands youth international arrive at the Amex on a permanent basis.
Interestingly, Scherpen is the second highly rated shot-stopper linked with a move to Graham Potter’s side recently.
Brighton are also keeping tabs on Krasnodar’s Matvei Safonov.
Is this is a sign Mat Ryan is destined to stay at Arsenal when his Emirates loan spell comes to an end? Brighton certainly appear to be in the market for a replacement.
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