Ajax intends to strengthen itself with one more football player before the transfer market closes on Monday evening. Erik ten Hag acknowledged at a press conference on Thursday evening that the club is trying to complete one more incoming transfer and that probably concerns Davy Klaassen. Ajax and Werder Bremen have not yet come to an agreement on a transfer fee for the midfielder, who himself would like to return to Amsterdam.

“I assume that we will start the season with this selection. But you can never determine that with certainty until October 6. I assume that this is the dressing room, hopefully with one more incoming transfer. ” Ten Hag then received a question about the possible arrival of Klaassen. “That could be Klaassen. If we have news, we will report it. We have several irons in the fire. We don’t always have to tell you that. The selection is, as it is now, in balance. But you always see if you can strengthen yourself. ”

With the arrival of Sean Klaiber, Ajax is responding to Sergiño Dest’s departure to Barcelona. “I really wanted to keep Dest, then we would have had seven good defenders, followed by Devyne Rensch. It is very unfortunate that he has left and then you have to solve it. Six defenders is not enough. Then you have to look for a player who can fill it in well, with a Dutch nationality because we already have many foreign players and then it is logical that you will end up with Klaiber. After Dest, Noussair Mazraoui and Denzel Dumfries, he is the best right back in the Eredivisie. ”

Sean Klaiber: ‘It’s never smart to say that in the media’

Ten Hag also looked ahead to Sunday’s away match against FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. Ajax will probably have to do without Mohammed Kudus, who dropped out of training this week. The trainer could not say what kind of injury it is for privacy reasons. “He has dropped out and is not fit for competition at the moment. We have to wait and see how that develops. ” Perr Schuurs, who soon had to be replaced by a shoulder injury against Vitesse, and Ryan Gravenberch, who was absent for unclear reasons in recent weeks, may be available.

Ten Hag was asked who will replace the suspended Edson Álvarez. “If Álvarez stays suspended, then I have something in my head. You will see that on Sunday ”, emphasized the trainer without showing his cards. Ten Hag hopes that all players will be available again soon. “In the preparation we played with a certain block in midfield. It’s annoying that Gravenberch dropped out. The build-up game was viscous, which went well in the preparation. That block in midfield is very important. That is the head of the team, everything is conceived there. We have to get back to that quickly, but the advantage was that we could see other players at work. ”