According to a report from the Italian outlet FcInterNews, Liverpool, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan were all interested in signing Donny van de Beek from Ajax last summer, but the Dutch club’s asking price of €80m put most suitors off.
However, the same outlet now reports that Ajax are looking to extend Van de Beek’s contract, which expires in 2021, until 2023. Normally, a contract extension would spell bad news for clubs interested in signing a player, however, that may not be the case this time around.
Ajax are reportedly set to make a “gentleman’s agreement” with the 22-year-old and his representatives that will allow him to be sold in the summer if he signs the extension.
Ajax don’t want the Dutch international to go into next season with just one year left on his deal as he could then feasibly leave for nothing in the summer of 2021, so they want to give him a new deal to protect his value, but they’ll still allow him to leave if they get a reasonable offer and Tottenham are said to still be ‘very interested’ in the player.
Read Liverpool verdict
Liverpool were right to take a look at Van de Beek in the summer, but it’s easy to see why they chose to walk away after being quoted the €80m price-tag. However, he’s clearly a very talented player and if the Reds do decide that they want upgrades in the summer then he would be a very good signing, but it looks like Tottenham hold more interest in him. Having said that, Spurs don’t look as good a proposition as the Reds currently, so maybe Jurgen Klopp’s side could have an advantage in a race for his signature, although it’s likely that more than just those two clubs will be interested in the Dutchman if he is available.
