Steven Bergwijn admits he would love Memphis Depay to join him at Ajax amid speculation linking with Barcelona winger with a move to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to De Telegraaf.
Life, as they say, comes at you fast.
This time last year, Depay was the jewel in Barcelona’s attacking crown. 12 months on, he’s starting to look like fools’ gold.
The arrivals of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski mean Xavi Hernandez now has more gems at his disposal than Emma Raducanu during the first round of Wimbledon, the former Leeds and Bayern Munich stars joining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati at the Camp Nou.
And, erm, Martin Braithwaite too.
Could Memphis Depay leave Barcelona for Spurs… or Ajax?
Barcelona will not stand in Depay’s way, then, if he wishes to move on after just one rather hit-and-miss season in Catalonia. According to Fabrizio Romano, Fabio Paratici – Spurs’ managing director – is a big fan of the Dutch international.
Spanish publication Sport say that a £14 million bid is in the pipeline.
But, having already splashed out big money on one Dutch international forward this summer, Bergwijn is hoping that Ajax repeat the trick as the winger’s compatriot awaits his next move.
“Memphis Depay to Ajax would be very nice,” says Bergwijn, who completed his protracted move away from Tottenham recently.
“I think Memphis would fit very well here in terms of his style of play. Is it realistic? I don’t know. Of course I would welcome it because we have had a great bond since our time together at PSV Eindhoven.”
Depay was the driving force behind PSV’s Eredivisie title win back in 2014/15, paving the way for his ill-fated move to Manchester United under Louis van Gaal.
It is not certain whether he would welcome a move back home at this stage of his career. Depay turns 29 in February. And it’s not often that elite-level footballers in their prime opt for a fresh start in the Eredivisie.
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