Manchester United and Chelsea get transfer boost but Edwin van der Sar warns Ajax stars won’t come cheap

Onana is reportedly a summer target for Chelsea as Frank Lampard considers bringing in a new goalkeeper
Action Images via Reuters

Ajax chief executive Edwin van der Sar has all-but confirmed that the likes of Andre Onana and Donny van de Beek will leave the club this summer, but warned their Premier League suitors: ‘They won’t come cheap!’

Goalkeeper Onana has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, while Manchester United have long had interest in Van de Beek, as have Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Argentinian full-back Nicolas Tagliafico is another star man reportedly looking to move on amid interest from Barcelona and former United goalkeeper Van der Sar confirmed that the club made agreements with all three last summer to allow them to seek moves at the end of the season.

However, with Hakim Ziyech already Chelsea-bound, the Dutchman insisted they will not be bullied In the transfer market, citing last year’s window, when despite the huge sales of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, the Eredivisie side managed to hold onto the bulk of the team that had reached the Champions League semi-finals.

AFP via Getty Images

“In January last year, people said we were going to lose seven or eight players but we lost only two key members,’ Van der Sar told Reuters.

“The big clubs such as Bayern Munich have said the benchmark fee will go down in the next few transfer windows. But it’s easier for them to say because they are the buyers.

“Of course, the €150-200million transfers are gone. But I think there is still a lot of value for players who come from Ajax. Well educated, experienced in winning and playing European football.

“Last year, we made verbal agreements with Onana, Tagliafico, Van de Beek to stay another season and then we look to help each other and find the next step in their careers. Nothing has changed.

“There won’t be a 50% discount. The clubs can forget about that.”

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