Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder insists no deal has been agreed for Tottenham Hotspur’s Steven Bergwijn in a potential boost to Premier League outfit Everton, speaking via Voetbal Primeur.
On Tuesday night, Sky Sports reported that Spurs were growing increasingly frustrated by Ajax’s inability – or reluctance – to meet their asking price for the one-time PSV Eindhoven talisman.
And who can blame them?
Ajax have been in talks to bring Bergwijn back to the Eredivisie for over six months now and, while negotiations are ongoing, an agreement still hasn’t been reached.
Spurs want around £20 million. Ajax, however, are yet to submit a bid in excess of £17 million.
Now, with Everton steaming in, this transfer punch-up could quickly become a three-man brawl. According to De Telegraaf and 90Min, The Toffees are offering far greater terms than Ajax, plus the chance to remain in the Premier League ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
Everton battling Ajax for Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn
And Schreuder, who replaced Erik Ten Hag at the Johan Cruyff Arena, insists that a deal between Tottenham and Ajax has not been ‘finalised’. Will it ever be?
“That has not yet been finalised,” says the former Barcelona assistant. “(I am) waiting patiently. I focus on the players I do have. Those I don’t have, I can’t do anything about that now.”
It is not certain whether Bergwijn would move to Goodison Park as part of a deal that will see Richarlison or Anthony Gordon – or maybe both – leave the blue side of Stanley Park for a fresh start in North London.
Bergwijn would, at least, provide Frank Lampard with a readymade replacement for one of his talismanic forwards. The Amsterdam-born 24-year-old is a player of huge potential after all. His prolific form at international level is proof of that.
But with Ivan Perisic done and Richarlison potentially following in his footsteps, Bergwijn will have no choice but to leave Spurs behind if he wishes to turn that ‘potential’ into something more concrete.
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