AFC Ajax have taken a step in their pursuit of Azzedine Ounahi. The Moroccan midfielder has been granted permission by Girona to travel to Amsterdam for talks, reports roundtable.io this week. The transfer window is in its final days and technical director Jordi Cruijff is busy.
Ajax currently sit fourth in the Eredivisie with seven points from three matches. The team has scored eight goals and conceded two, giving them a goal difference of plus six. The Amsterdam side are five points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar. The next major test is the home match against PSV Eindhoven on September 5th, a clash against the second-placed team.
Why does Ajax want Ounahi?
Interest in Azzedine Ounahi has been present all summer. Ajax held talks about the player earlier but opted for Julian Brandt. The club continues to work on a deal, although other clubs are also in the race. Observers consider Ounahi a top player, but his arrival would be a luxury signing.
Ajax's squad already has three quality options for the number 10 position: Julian Brandt, Oscar Gloukh, and Abdellah Ouazane. The latter two can also play on the left wing. This raises the question of whether Ounahi is the profile of player Ajax currently needs. The starting eleven still requires strengthening, and the club is not in a position for luxury signings. Depth is needed if Ajax want to win the Eredivisie and go far in the Conference League.
Which other positions need strengthening?
The focus on Ounahi must not overshadow other needs. Ajax urgently need a new left winger to replace Mika Godts. Noa Lang was identified as a top target, but a deal is unlikely due to costs. The club has made a bid for Brian Rodríguez from Club América, but it is unclear if that has been accepted.
The defensive midfield also requires reinforcement. Youri Regeer has struggled to find form at the start of this season. Manager Michel Sanchez has already expressed a desire to strengthen that position. Ajax were interested in bringing Edson Álvarez back, but that move failed to materialise. Yves Bissouma, a free agent after his contract at Tottenham Hotspur expired, has also been linked to the club.
Additionally, Ajax are seeking a right-footed centre-back. Aaron Bouwman is currently the only option with that preferred foot. The full squad can be viewed on our squad page.
What are the financial obstacles?
The cost for Ounahi is unclear, making any potential deal complex. Ajax have limited resources and must deploy them strategically. The priority is signing a quality left winger and a strong defensive midfielder.
Signing Ounahi would mean there are enough players for the positions where he would get most of his minutes. The money might be better spent on direct reinforcements for the starting lineup. The coming days will be decisive. The current league standings can be followed on our standings page.
What is next for Ajax?
All attention now turns to preparing for the crunch match against PSV. That game takes place on September 5th at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. It is a direct clash in the battle near the top. The schedule for the coming weeks is on our fixtures overview. Meanwhile, the technical staff continues working on the final pieces of the squad before the transfer window closes.
