Valentijn Driessen has serious doubts about the almost certain arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu to Ajax. The journalist from The Telegraph finds it incomprehensible that the club is betting on a player who barely featured for Arsenal last year.
According to Driessen, there are too many risks associated with the transfer of the 27-year-old Japanese, who, according to several media outlets, is on his way to Amsterdam on the basis of a performance contract. The defender only made one appearance for the Londoners last season and had long-term injury problems.
“That Japanese man (Tomiyasu, ed.) played at Arsenal last year, but was injured for a long time,” Driessen says in a video from The Telegraph. “So he probably needs time to get used to it and get a playing rhythm.”
Although Tomiyasu can fill several positions in defense, Driessen sees no immediate added value. “Bouwman (Aaron, ed.) is doing well, but he hasn’t had any strong opponents yet. But if such a Japanese comes, yes, maybe Bouwman can learn something from him, but I don’t think it’s a smart purchase.”
The Telegraaf reporter believes that Ajax should give priority to players who can be deployed immediately. “You always have to wait and see how he comes back. He has hardly trained in a team context. So I don’t really understand the purchase. I would rather focus on someone who is fit and immediately strengthens your team, than someone who might need three months to get fit and then the season is over. Then it is of no use to you,” Driessen concludes.
