Hakim Ziyech tops the list of Ajax stars Europe's big guns should target

Aditya Devavrat 21:27 09/05/2019
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  • Ajax‘s fairytale run to the Champions League semi-finals ended in heartbreak on Wednesday as the Dutch giants were stunned by a Tottenham comeback, but plenty of players caught the eye during their European adventure.

    The Eredivisie side’s model means that several players could now be sold on the back of this campaign, as some of Europe’s biggest clubs could look to raid Ajax for their biggest stars.

    A deal has already been agreed for Frenkie de Jong to join Barcelona and captain Matthijs de Ligt is likely headed to the same destination, but who else could be on the move?

    Here, we take a look at three Ajax players the rest of Europe should be targeting.

    Hakim Ziyech

    A player with pace, vision and energy, who can play anywhere across a front three and has a penchant for producing brilliant finishes. Hakim Ziyech has been in the shop window for quite a while but this Champions League campaign has surely raised his stock.

    Any team looking for a winger or No10 – Manchester United come to mind – should have the 26-year-old on their radar. At his age he’s a ready-made player who can slot straight into a good side, while also potentially developing into an even better player over the next two to three years.

    But here’s the clincher: Ziyech’s contract reportedly contains a £25million release clause. At that price, signing the Moroccan is a no-brainer.

    Donny van de Beek

    De Jong has been stealing all the headlines in Ajax’s midfield, but over the last three rounds of Champions League action his colleague and compatriot Donny van de Beek also began catching the eye. That will happen when you score in both the quarter-final and the semi-final of the Champions League, and both away goals to boot.

    And just as important as his goalscoring is his work rate. Ajax’s European run has been filled with instances of Van de Beek diligently joining in the team’s press, at times even ferociously leading it, as the Dutch side made it a point to cause discomfort for opposition defences on the ball.

    It’s the sort of trait that Unai Emery would definitely value at Arsenal, for example. And they’re not the only club who could use a player like the 22-year-old.

    Andre Onana

    A 23-year-old goalkeeper whose star is rising is a prized prospect. On Wednesday, Onana pulled off a couple of excellent saves, including one outstanding one to deny Fernando Llorente from point-blank range – though Spurs still scored on the rebound. He’s also every bit the modern keeper, passing well under pressure as well as functioning as a sweeper-keeper when his side are defending.

    Barcelona have the inside track to re-sign him but the Cameroon international may not prefer a return to the club where he began his career. Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s stellar form over the last two seasons means the route to the first team will be blocked for the foreseeable future – the German is only 27. Clubs looking for a long-term goalkeeper should be lining up outside Ajax’s door.

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