Everton are among several clubs in the picture to sign AZ Alkmaar’s Owen Wijndal.
The left-back finished the 2021/22 season with a goal and 12 assists from 43 matches in all competitions. His fine displays have caught the attention of the Toffees, Ajax, Napoli and Sevilla.
De Telegraaf state money earned from the Champions League, Ryan Gravenberch’s sale to Bayern Munich and the possible sale of Sébastien Haller to Borussia Dortmund can help Ajax carry out deals for the fullback, Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn and RB Leipzig’s Brian Brobbey.
The Amsterdam club are aware of Wijndal’s asking price [€10m] and his wage demands should not be an issue for them. However, their first salary offer has not pleased the AZ defender.
Ajax chiefs, Gerry Hamstra and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, are working to sort out the future of Nicolás Tagliafico. They tried convincing him to stay, but he is keen to leave the club this summer. The Argentine has not received concrete interest so far.
It looks like Ajax are waiting to have more clarity on Tagliafico’s situation and should they continue to delay make an effort for Wijndal, it may see them miss out on the AZ star. That’s because of the interest shown by the Toffees and other clubs.
Wijndal, down his end, cannot keep Everton, Napoli and Sevilla, who are the ‘concretely interested clubs’, waiting ‘much longer’.
A move away from the Netherlands would help earn his agent, José Fortes Rodriguez, ‘millions of euros’. That’s possible if the defender were to join one of Everton, Sevilla or Napoli.
However, the representative is willing to give up the high commission so that his client can join Ajax. For this to happen, the Dutch champions will have to act fast and make sure the likes of Everton, Sevilla or Napoli don’t make any firm efforts to sign Wijndal.
