“Amateurish” – Southampton transfer drama leads to criticism for DoF

Kamaldeen Sulemana’s failed move to Ajax from Southampton on deadline of the Dutch transfer window has led to criticism for Ajax DoF Alex Kroes.

Analyst Johan Derksen has laid into Kroes today, via FC Update, labelling his work at the Dutch club this summer and the failed move for the Southampton man as ‘amateurish’.

Sulemana was a late target for Ajax, who had targeted him as a replacement for Steven Bergwijn as he was moving to Saudi Arabia.

They secured a deal with Southampton late into the window but were left waiting to see if the deal would be ratified because of that.

Their hope was that they had submitted the relevant paperwork in time but that did not prove to be the case, with the deal cancelled after something of a tense wait for confirmation either way.

The whole affair did not reflect well on Ajax, who have had a low-key transfer window with Wout Weghorst the only arrival for a fee despite €57m worth of players departing.

The blame is being fully directed at Kloese at this moment in time, and Derksen has added to that chorus.

“Amateurish,” was the word he chose when asked to describe the failed deal with Southampton.

“You see how important it is if you have a good technical director at a club. That determines the continuity of your club.

“They sent that guy (Marc Overmars, Kroes’ predecessor) away for a few (redacted) pics. Well, I think he could have thrown in a few (redacted) pics if he had kept Ajax great.”