Ajax have seen many of the squad Erik ten Hag built either leave or come under serious consideration from the transfer vultures this summer. Ryan Gravenberch has joined Bayern Munich, while Sebastien Haller replaced Erling Haaland at Borussia Dortmund.
Influential full-back Noussair Mazraoui also left for Germany when snapped up by Bayern as a free agent. Furthermore, Lisandro Martinez is on the cusp of joining Manchester United.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Ajax have now become the hunters.
Romano tweeted the Dutch powerhouse have forged an agreement to sign Rangers defender, Calvin Bassey.
The 22-year-old was a revelation at Ibrox last year and earned a place in the Europa League Team of the Season.
However, like Ajax, the Scottish sides are always vulnerable in the market and the Amsterdam club have now become the poacher.
Calvin Bassey smashes Rangers record
Romano reported a deal worth approximately £18.75m has been struck. Add-ons worth £4.25m could potentially take the final fee to £23m.
That figure blows away Rangers’ previous record sale, currently set at the £11m the Scots sold Nathan Patterson to Everton for in January.
Romano added Rangers have included a 10 percent sell-on clause, meaning Bassey could bear more fruit down the line. The trusted journalist gave the move his signature ‘here we go’ seal of approval.
Ten Hag told of transfer rejection in phone call
Also on Ajax’s agenda are moves for Francisco Conceicao and Brian Brobbey.
Ajax have triggered the £4.25m release clause for FC Porto forward Conceicao. The 19-year-old will sign a five-year contract in Amsterdam.
But of more intriguing news is Ajax’s impending capture of Brobbey.
The 20-year-old forward worked under Ten Hag at Ajax in the 2020-21 campaign. He was ultimately sold to RB Leipzig, though his time in Germany did not work out.
He was loaned back to Ajax in January where he re-found his groove, plundering seven goals in 13 appearances.
Brobbey had emerged on Man Utd’s radar as a depth option up front. The uncertainty surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, combined with Edinson Cavani’s free agent exit, has left Ten Hag short on numbers.
However, per Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Brobbey personally called Ten Hag to inform him he would not be joining Manchester United. Instead, he will return to Ajax who will activate their option to make his loan spell permanent.
Romano concluded official announcements confirming the Bassey, Conceicao and Brobbey deals are ‘expected soon’.
