Fred Grim and Ajax will lose Kenneth Taylor to Italian Lazio. The Ajax coach thus loses an experienced link in his selection. The midfielder will undergo a medical examination in Rome on Friday and will sign for 4.5 years.
“Kenneth was very important to us. Otherwise you wouldn’t make such a transfer,” Grim said at the online press conference on Friday morning. “We have several midfielders to fill his place. A number of boys knocked on the door before the winter break, for example Sean Steur and Jorthy Mokio. We have a number of options there and we will see every week how we can fill that in.”
In addition to Taylor’s upcoming departure, James McConnell will also not return to Amsterdam. “He has already returned to Liverpool in consultation with both clubs,” Grim confirms the English midfielder’s failed loan spell.
Backlash Berghuis
Ajax must therefore once again enter the transfer market for a new ‘number 6’. They are also still looking for a left back in Amsterdam and are keeping the option open for attracting a winger. Steven Berghuis is experiencing a setback.
“It went reasonably well before the winter break, but he has had a small setback. We can’t say much about it,” Grim says about Berghuis. Wout Weghorst, on the other hand, is on his way back. “He is making small steps forward. Telstar – Ajax is coming too early and also AZ – Ajax in the cup will be short notice. Kian Fitz-Jim is training with the group again, that is going in the right direction.”
Not a quick debut for Tomiyasu
Grim expects that a debut from Takehiro Tomiyasu will have to wait a while. “He has trained a number of times, also with the group. He does certain exercises. He takes small steps, it will take a while before he can play.”
“He makes a good impression in training, but it is a question mark when he will be ready to play matches,” Grim continues. “If he is fit, I think he can play enough games for us. In different positions. He can play very well in the last line: on the right, central and left. He is very multifunctional.”
Haven’t spoken to Cruijff yet
Jordi Cruijff will soon start working as technical director at Ajax. This week he was supposed to talk to Grim in Amsterdam, but the trainer had a fever.
The conversation has not yet taken place, also because Cruijff could not come to the capital due to the winter conditions. The meeting is now planned for sometime in the coming days, in Amsterdam or online.
Telstar-out
The harsh winter days could also jeopardize Ajax’s restart in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie. “We assume that it will continue. As long as we don’t hear from the KNVB, we just have to assume that we will play.”
Telstar is the opponent on Sunday. “We have to take it seriously. It is a good team, surprisingly. A team that wants to work for each other. They built up confidence with a victory before the winter break.”
Telstar – Ajax can be seen on ESPN 2 on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 PM
