Brighton and Hove Albion are ‘negotiating’ with Ajax over a deal for young goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.
That’s according to Algemeen Dagblad, who say the Seagulls want to sign the keeper permanently, but Ajax are working to persuade them otherwise.
The newspaper explain that the Dutch champions have put their faith in a loan for Scherpen next season after he made it clear he wants to get game time elsewhere rather than stay as number three.
He had been set to join PEC Zwolle, but now Brighton have made a move instead and ‘want to acquire’ him permanently.
That is something Ajax want to avoid and ‘seem to be able’ to get Brighton to change their mind and accept a loan deal instead.
Both they and Scherpen are now ‘awaiting the progress of the negotiations’ between Ajax and Brighton as a result.
The player is keen on a move as he has ‘little claim’ to playing time at Ajax, who are set to bring in the experienced Remko Pasveer to the club as competition from Maarten Stekelenburg.
Thus he has ‘repeatedly hinted’ in recent months that he doesn’t want to be number three and that had set up the possible move to PEC Zwolle.
But now Brighton have entered into the race, although it remains to be seen if Scherpen arrives permanently, as they want, or on loan, as Ajax want.