Ajax want to complete the return of Siem de Jong from Newcastle United ‘within 48 hours’, as reported by De Telegraaf on Wednesday.
The Dutch newspaper explain De Jong could have instead been joining Jaap Stam at Reading, but is turning down the Championship club.
Reading would be prepared to offer a higher salary than Ajax, but De Jong has still turned Stam down because he wants to return to the Eredivisie giants.
De Jong will give up ‘a lot of money’ when leaving Newcastle, and will join Ajax for a transfer fee of around €2m. The Newcastle forward has made a sporting decision rather than financial, explain De Telegraaf, and that’s why Stam and Reading won’t be getting their way.
There’s no mention of the wage offers or levels at any of Newcastle United, Reading, or 
Ajax, so it’s impossible to see just what kind of financial sacrifice De Jong is actually making.
Rafael Benitez doesn’t have the Dutchman in his plans, therefore an exit was always likely before the end of the current window.
Ajax can’t be too short of money, having agreed a €40m deal to sell Davinson Sanchez to Tottenham.
