New Players for Ajax

[Cedric]

I'm not sure Boulahrouz is very keen to move back to the Netherlands right now... At least, it's what he said some weeks ago. That's understandable I guess.

[Kowalczyk]

Yeah, that's right.

Before Euro 2008 it was an option, because he'd been injured the whole season and it seemed like Sevilla were gonna drop him. But his Euro 2008 performances opened up loads of new options for him, I'm sure, so I guess he doesn't need to return to Holland.

K.

[bluedaddy19]

I also think Aissati will likely move here. PSV is just going to draw it out and get as much money as possible out of the whole thing.

for PR sake, i'd guess they would have to drag it out, even if they don't get more money

[Duke]

Today PSV said that they could sell Assaiti, but not to Ajax.

[aveslacker]

Today PSV said that they could sell Assaiti, but not to Ajax.

[Blind3]

We could let Perez go, but not to PSV.

Ajax fires a salvo, PSV counters, Ajax to serve.

[Blind3]

Ajax Netwerk is running another Algemeen Dagblad piece which , FWIW , indicates that Ajax are close to a deal with Barca defender Oleguer Presas. I'll believe it when Ko tells me it's so.

At 28, Oleguer would definitely add experience. Even if we get him, I'd still love to see one more defender. That said, he'd be a fourth new face on a first eleven that missed the CL last yr and this, so I'm sure money isn't infinite.

[The Purple Cow]

Oluguer is an interesting character to say the least. H's a seriously left-wing intellectual who refuses to play for Spain on Catalan principles.

He's a university economics graduate, a published author, and has written newspaper articles criticizing the independence of Spain's judicial system. He's much hated by the Madrid media and the Madrilene crowd in general.

Very quick guy, can play at right back or right centre-back.

[bluedaddy19]

de telegraaf now says that we are in spain today to talk oleguer

i like him, and dont forget he can also play either wingback position as well, but as Blind3 said, i too still want another defender and i want that defender to be kolodin!!!

[Blind3]

Someone else not fond of Madrid ? I'm speaking in footie terms. Politically speaking, given the abuses of the Franco government toward the Catalans, I can understand how resentment may be harbored over the generations since 1975. I just saw an episode of Gol TV's KIng of Clubs program , which focused on Barca and included the Franco period.

Ajax is also a featured club on the same tv series. Each club has a 1/2 hour program devoted to it and its history.The Ajax program was AWESOME.

Returning to football and potential new players, the guy has 125 first team appearances for Barcelona. Sounds like he could be a steadying influence in the back.

However, I'm greedy, I want him and a second defender yet to be named to be central figures, positionally and otherwise, in a Bermuda Triangle like defense. A place where attacks go and are never seen again .

[Rubin Stark]

Oluguer is an interesting character to say the least. H's a seriously left-wing intellectual who refuses to play for Spain on Catalan principles.

He's a university economics graduate, a published author, and has written newspaper articles criticizing the independence of Spain's judicial system. He's much hated by the Madrid media and the Madrilene crowd in general.

Very quick guy, can play at right back or right centre-back.

Very cool. If he doesn't fit in to the side, he can play reserves and write match reports for Ajax USA.

[Van basten]

Ajax Go Shopping In Barcelona

With Ismaïl Aissati, Miralem Sulejmani and Darío Cvitanich all arriving this summer, Ajax have arguably bolstered both their midfield and frontline. And now they have turned to Barcelona defenders Oleguer and Henrique to strengthen their defence too.
The Johan Cruijff Schaal holders were linked with Oleguer earlier this month, but today the Algemeen Dagblad reveals that their technical manager Danny Blind and acting managing director Henri van der Aat arrived in the capital of Catalonia yesterday to seal the transfer.

The Amsterdam connection

Oleguer Presas i Renom joined Barcelona’s reserve squad, Atlétic, at the age of 21, seven years ago and was promoted to the first team in November 2002 by Louis van Gaal. Interestingly enough, he was established by another Dutchman strongly linked with Ajax, Frank Rijkaard.

He has since featured in 175 competitive matches, albeit scoring just once in a 4-0 sound victory at Málaga, back on April 24, 2005. Of course, this is not what Marco van Basten would be asking of him. A steady centre-back capable of playing on the right, Oleguer would be set to replace the departed Johnny Heitinga, who moved the other way around by leaving Ajax to join Barça’s Spanish rivals Atlético Madrid. The 28-year-old’s contract expires in mid-2010.

Dutch media estimate that the move will go through perhaps within hours for a fee in the region of five million euros. In any case, the package is not expected to come cheap, as Oleguer earns two million a year at Barcelona, even though competition for places and a broken hand narrowed his 2007-’08 outings down to 15.

Henrique move back on?

Even if the Dutch giants do sign Oleguer, that won’t be the end of their pre-season transfers, as they are currently looking for two central defenders. The second one could also come from Barcelona, where Ajax bought Gabri from two years ago, as they have renewed their interest in Brazilian Henrique, who only snubbed them some weeks ago to sign for Barça. New boss Pep Guardiola thinks it would be best for the 21-year-old defender, whose transfer from Palmeiras cost a reported 10 million euros, to move elsewhere on loan first, but he has yet to agree a deal with Bayer Leverkusen, who are also in the hunt.

[Pablo.V]

I realy have some doubts about oleguer, he is not the "Stam" kind of player.
I would like to see someone else in the centre of our defence. Hope i am wrong.
Here's link of him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBy62Dqi ... re=related

[DanK]

I realy have some doubts about oleguer, he is not the "Stam" kind of player.
I would like to see someone else in the centre of our defence. Hope i am wrong.
Here's link of him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBy62Dqi ... re=related

I am sure I could make the same clip of pretty much every defender in the world, or you could also look at it this way. If this is the ONLY poor defensive lapses they could come up with, he's can't be that bad.

[SE6Ajacied]

I realy have some doubts about oleguer, he is not the "Stam" kind of player.
I would like to see someone else in the centre of our defence. Hope i am wrong.
Here's link of him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBy62Dqi ... re=related

I am sure I could make the same clip of pretty much every defender in the world, or you could also look at it this way. If this is the ONLY poor defensive lapses they could come up with, he's can't be that bad.

Have to agree - Can't say I know much about him as don't see Barca that much but have to agree he can't be all that bad. That game against Arsenal on there is from the year they won the CL btw.

I had heard of the politics though

[Venezuelan Ajacied]

Think of Oleguer as another Gabri but in the center back position...Hard nosed player that gives everything on the pitch, but not with enough talent to keep a starting job in a star studded team like Barcelona.....We all know how Gabri has been for Ajax so i would be very hopefull with Oleguer.

Not champions league material but great for the Eredivisie and Uefa Cup.

[Blind3]

I remember watching Oleguer in pre-season several years ago, v. ManU and Milan, in a Barca US tour and thinking that he was out of position. He was playing at the left back slot then. Not slow, but not Joan Capdevila or Eric Abidal either. I think he would be just the kind of hardnosed player we need. Experienced, tough, from a winning tradition and background, and smart. Also, he sounds like enough of a rational thinker to know that Dani Alves- Gabriel Milito-Carlos Puyol-Eric Abidal at Camp Nou equals riding the pine unless he goes elsewhere.

I'd also be in favor of the Henrique move.

[AjaxPDX]

I’m not a fan of either of the Barca defender transfers. Henrique because Ajax shouldn’t be a feeder club, and I hate the idea of only having him on loan. Weak. And as for Oleguer, he may be a decent player, but he’s also 28, coming from a massive club, and on a huge wage. Here’s an idea: instead of snatching up high salaried, mid career, cast offs from the big clubs, why not scout a younger, high potential, up-and-comer defender from a smaller club? Ajax is supposed to be legendary in their scouting and player development, after all, yet this type of move just strikes of laziness and indifference.

In other defender transfer news… Khalid went to Stuttgart today.

[aveslacker]

I understand the concerns about the wage bill for a guy like Oleguer, but don't forget that we have vdWiel to bring along as well. So in addition to our homegrown guy, we need some experience.

I'd like to see Ajax start 6 or 7 graduates of the youth team every time out, but that's a little way off (could happen in the spring or next year, though). In the interim, the team needs to fill some serious gaps and win the eredivisie. I'm willing to let the lack of youth players slide for the short term. But I would prefer an Ajax youth-based squad winning the eredivisie.

[Blind3]

Speaking of legendary Greek warriors, defense has been Ajax's achilles heel for several seasons now. I'd be more than thrilled if our defensive stoppers were youth products. The trouble is, Vermaelen, Vd Weil, and Vertonghen aren't at that level right now. As for Urby, will the real Urby Emanuelson please step forward ! If a Jaap Stam player was present in our current backline group, he has yet to step up to that level.

So, do you simply stockpile offense while our backline continues as is ? I say no. Whether it's Oleguer or some unnamed defender(s), Ajax has to take the plunge.

[gordonvandekamp]

I agree, this is a problem that should have been solved two seasons ago, which is why I think it would be good to get a player like Oleguer. If we don't fix it, we won't win the league and won't do anything in Europe. It's gone on long enough, and we have the money for it, we need to buy someone who's going to fix the problem.

There haven't been many quality defenders over the last few years and I think that's resulted in the disappointing seasons. I agree, they have to take the plunge at this point, and we can't wait around for who we currently have to develop without some reinforcements.

I think (hope) he will be a good fit if we can land him. It's frustrating that we have such a great attack/midfield/gk, but the defense can barely compete with other Eredivisie clubs.

[Orange14]

Looks like terms for Oleguer's transfer have been agreed to. Rather modest 3 million Euros with an additional 2 pending Ajax success in Champions League in the out years. I wonder if this is the last transfer. We still could use one more defender.

[Kowalczyk]

Looks like terms for Oleguer's transfer have been agreed to. Rather modest 3 million Euros with an additional 2 pending Ajax success in Champions League in the out years. I wonder if this is the last transfer. We still could use one more defender.

I heard a brief interview with Danny Blind on the radio this week (after the Noordwijk friendly) and he said Ajax wanted to reinforce the defense with "at least one quality defender, probably even two", so don't be surprised if they land another one.

Which would be great.

I've said it before and I will say it again: I think Ajax are spending too much money on transfers these days, which (in the long run) is not the way to go if you ask me, but I have to say I'm impressed with what they're doing. Unlike last summer they seem to know exactly what they want and they're not signing mediocre players on the cheap. They're really going for top drawer signings, who can (potentially) lift the team to the next level.

Respect for that. One more good defender and I will become seriously optimistic...

K.

[gordonvandekamp]

I would still like to see one more defensive signing as well, but feel much more optimistic about the upcoming season so far.

I don't think I've seen it here, but according to Barca's official site, Henrique is being loaned out to Bayer Leverkuesen. I'd prefer a signing over a loanee anyways.

[aveslacker]

Ko, I agree that we're spending too much on transfers these days, but I don't think we can fill the gaps in our team from the youth team yet. I fully hope that by next season we'll have more youth players out there.

Nonetheless, I'm beginning to have serious hope for this season.