Every time the summer transfer window opens, rumours that see countless players linked with moves away from some clubs and to others swirl around whether we like it or not. Although there are plenty of football fans who love to get into the gutter of transfer talk, it can prove to be little more than a distraction for the players themselves.
Ajax are no less susceptible to these moves than any other club, which is proving to be the case the longer the summer goes on. Kenneth Taylor is being linked with a move away as his former manager Francesco Farioli targets him, as is Jorrel Hato, but are either likely to move?
Porto Want Taylor
In spite of the fact that Ajax’s bid for the Eredivisie title last season fell apart in spectacular fashion on the final day of the campaign, many of the players in that team are now being targeted by clubs from other leagues around Europe. One of the names being linked with a move away is that of Kenneth Taylor, who is being pursued by Ajax’s former manager Francesco Farioli.
He is the new boss of Porto, but a reported bid of €15 million has been laughed away by de Godenzonen, who believe that he is worth more than double that amount. The Dutch midfielder has been at the club since he was eight years old.
Having made 60 appearances in the league for Jong Ajax, scoring 14 goals, Taylor was promoted to the first-team and has played more than 100 times in the Eredivisie, finding the back of the net on 23 occasions. Whilst Ajax have not accepted the bid from the Portuguese side, the fact that he has a price tag attached to his name suggests that he is not likely to be part of the thinking of John Heitinga moving forward.
Whether that means that he will definitely leave this summer remains to be seen, but it is easy to see a world in which the new head coach would rather be able to invest any money the club could get for him.
Chelsea Pursue Hato
One player that many Ajax fans would be surprised to see still at the club next season is Jorrel Hato. The left-sided centre-back, who can also play in the left-back position, is on the shortlist of numerous clubs. Premier League side Liverpool have been keeping tabs on him, for example, believing that he could act as cover for both Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez, owing to the fact that he can play in either of their positions.
It seems as though another of their Premier League rivals might be looking to steal a march on his signature, with The Athletic suggesting that the Londoners would be keen to take him to Stamford Bridge.
@yusuf2.x We need to get this man before the window ends #jorrelhato #ajax #chelsea #footballtiktok #fyp #tranfer #hato ♬ original sound – Yusuf2x
The Blues have money to burn, having won the Club World Cup and taking home a sizeable reward for doing so. The big question is whether or not Hato would be interested in signing for them, given the fact that the club seems a bit like a basket case in terms of the number of players being signed; if there is a rumour that a player is for sale, there is a good chance Chelsea’s name will be linked.
Ajax will also be keen to keep hold of the 19-year-old, from whom big things are expected. Given the fact that both Liverpool and Arsenal are also linked with him, it looks like he could be the master of his own destiny.
A Complete Overhaul?
The fact that Ajax would reportedly accept an offer in the region of €40 million for Hato means that both he and Taylor could depart the Johan Cruyff ArenA this summer. Given the release of other players already during the last few weeks, including the departure of Jordan Henderson, it looks as though de Godenzonen are undergoing something of an overhaul.
That is perhaps not all that surprising, especially when you bear in mind the psychological damage that will have been done to the players by the manner in which they missed out on the Eredivisie title to PSV Eindhoven in the final weeks of last season.
John Heitinga will have his own ideas of the players that he’d like to work with, starting with as fresh a plate as possible ahead of the 2025-2026 campaign. If money can be brought in for players that the Dutch national doesn’t like the look of, it can be reinvested, putting in place players that he would like to work with.
Although Ajax are the most successful Dutch side, having won 36 top-flight titles to date, the club hasn’t won one since the 2021-2022 season, and that has to change. Can a new-look team do what the side last season didn’t manage and get the Eredivisie title over the line once more?