Jurrien Timber will ‘probably go to Liverpool’ with the Premier League giants hoping to snap up another Eredivisie star after luring Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven.
That is according to Andy Van der Meyde; the former Dutch international expecting another summer exodus from an Ajax side who have lost Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Sebastien Haller and even head coach Erik ten Hag over the last 12 months.
Such has been Ajax’s decline in the post-Ten Hag era, not even Europa League qualification is guaranteed these days.
Feyenoord have already snatched the Eredivisie crown from off the heads of their Klassiker rivals, while a Xavi Simons-inspired PSV are well-placed to secure the runners-up spot.
Ajax, then, will not exactly be operating from a position of strength as they look to keep their star players from out of the clutches of more-deep-pocketed suitors.
Is Jurrien Timber joining Cody Gakpo at Liverpool?
“There may be eight or nine players that Ajax will have to say goodbye to,” Van der Meyde, who spent four years at Everton from 2005 to 2009, tells Voetbal Zone. “(Edson) Alvarez will leave for 40 million euros, and (Mohammed) Kudus for 30 million.”
21-year-old Jurrien Timber, Van der Meyde adds, could follow in his footsteps on Merseyside. Albeit on the red half of the city. 90Min say that Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.
“Timber will probably go to Liverpool. They (the Premier League clubs) also pay crazy money. Then you can start building again.”
The £36 million-rated Timber admitted recently – having come close to reuniting with Ten Hag at Manchester United in 2022 – that a departure from Ajax’s Johan Cruyff Arena was edging ‘closer’.
One Dutch reporter believes that Timber’s girlfriend is currently house hunting in Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League-chasing side are looking for a young centre-half in the event of Joel Matip’s departure and the technically-gifted, versatile Timber – who has played alongside Virgil van Dijk for the national team – ticks plenty of boxes.
“I wasn’t nearly as far along (in my development) as he is now,” Van Dijk tells Voetbal International of a man ten years his junior. “I have nothing but praise for (Timber).
“He is a great player and a true professional. He has so much potential. Hopefully he can develop further.”
Manchester United’s pursuit of Kim Min-Jae, however, could set off a chain reaction that results in Timber heading to Italy rather than Anfield. Serie A champions Napoli, Gazzetta dello Sport say, view Timber as Kim’s replacement.
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