Ajax is scouring the Brazilian market in the search for a new goalkeeper. Gazeta Esportiva reports on Monday that the leader in the Eredivisie is interested in João Paulo, a 25-year-old Santos goalkeeper. According to the Brazilian medium, the negotiations between the two clubs are still in the early stages. Paulo has an ongoing contract with Santos until mid-2025, which means that Ajax will have to come up with a transfer fee anyway.
Football affairs director Marc Overmars is said to have recently contacted the management of the 1.88 meter tall Paulo, to discuss a possible switch to Ajax. After that, Johan Cruijff had consultations with the board of Santos, or so it sounds from Brazil. The technical direction of Ajax is reportedly working on a first bid for the goalkeeper, who has 34 appearances for Santos to his name. It is currently not known what asking price is hanging around the South American goalkeeper’s neck.
Gazeta Esportiva also reports that Santos owns 70 percent of Paulo’s transfer rights. The remaining thirty percent is in the hands of the player himself. The keeper coveted by Ajax does not have a basic place at Santos. Paulo has had to tolerate the also 25-year-old John Furtado under the bar for some time. It also doesn’t seem like trainer Ariel Holan is making any quick changes to the goalkeepers’ pecking order.
Trainer Erik ten Hag recently announced that Ajax is in talks with André Onana, who has been suspended for twelve months, about a possible contract extension. The goalkeeper has a contract in Amsterdam until mid-2022 and the club is looking at all options in the context of the suspension. It does not seem likely that Onana will leave Ajax this summer, as he is normally not immediately available at another club. In the meantime, Maarten Stekelenburg replaces him under the bar at Ajax. The latter goalkeeper saw his good performances last Sunday rewarded with a place in the provisional selection of the Dutch national team for the upcoming international period.
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