Jurgen Ekkelenkamp may leave Ajax for Hertha BSC. Technical director Arne Friedrich of the Bundesliga club denies that there is already an agreement with the team from Amsterdam about the amount of the transfer fee, but confirms that ‘good conversations’ have been held about the midfielder. The 21-year-old Ekkelenkamp’s contract expires next year.
Ekkelenkamp has been playing for Ajax since 2013. Due to the stiff competition in the midfield, he hardly gets to play in the main squad. Director of football affairs Marc Overmars recently informed Football International know that a departure is possible. “Jurgen may extend, but what can you offer that boy?”, said Overmars.
FC Twente has made it no secret in recent months that the Ekkelenkamp would like to take over on a rental basis. That doesn’t seem to be happening, as Hertha BSC has joined the fray. Friedrich cannot deny the interest in the Dutch youth international. “But there is no agreement yet,” he tells kicker. “We are having good talks, but as yet there is no agreement.”
Hertha BSC are looking to strengthen this transfer window in an attacking way after Matheus Cunha was sold to Atlético Madrid for €30 million. “This is also an opportunity for us,” said Friedrich. “Now everything is not on Matheus’ shoulders. He put a lot of pressure on himself, but now the other players are being asked to deliver. You see it everywhere in the Bundesliga: today it is not individual players, but a team that wins matches. We also want to go there.”
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