Steven Bergwijn turns down Everton to move to Ajax
Steven Bergwijn has turned down a move to Everton to join Dutch giants Ajax after a £30m fee was agreed between them and Tottenham, according to 90min.
Bergwijn was offered to the Toffees [Telegraph, June 28] during negotiations between Spurs and Everton for striker Richarlison, who eventually completed his move for £60m cash rather than any other players involved.
Reports in Holland claimed that manager Frank Lampard had made a “personal proposal” to convince him to move to Goodison Park with the club willing to pay Tottenham’s £30m asking price as Ajax stalled.
But a report from 90min [July 4] claims that Ajax have now agreed a fee with the north London club and Bergwijn has turned down a move to Everton in order to return to his homeland.
Bergwijn wants to be part of the Dutch World Cup squad this year and Champions League football was a big factor in his decision to choose Ajax over anyone else.
Blow
Bergwijn hasn’t been able to show the quality and ability that he has since he’s been at Spurs, but at 24-years-old he has still got plenty of time to do that elsewhere.
Everton targeting him made a lot of sense too. He is capable of playing on both wings or even as a central striker, and has the talent to score a bag full of goals at the highest level.
The fee would have seen them replace Richarlison for just half the money they sold him for, and they’d still then have money to bolster the rest of the squad in other areas.
But after such a horrid season in the 2021/22 campaign, it’s no surprise that players are looking at Everton from the side of their eye and questioning whether to join or not – especially when clubs playing Champions League football are interested too.
The club need to be really smart with their strategy this summer, but must also move quickly in order to give Lampard what he needs with enough time.