Heavily linked with a Tottenham exit in January, Steven Bergwijn has a club ready to welcome him in Ajax Amsterdam.
Their manager, Erik Ten Hag, has hinted as much in press conferences, and while he did make a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven, the forward is in desperate need to play with the 2022 World Cup edging ever closer.
Antonio Conte doesn’t appear to have much interest in using him regularly, which is why a move back to Holland could be on the cards, as Ajax prepare to be without Sébastien Haller for some time due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
That’s all well and good, but what happens when he returns?
This is the question asked by former Tottenham midfielder and cult hero Rafael Van der Vaart, who spoke about it all on Ziggo Sport on Wednesday afternoon, relayed by Ajax Showtime.
He said: “He is a wonderful player. I like to watch him. The last time he did a great job with the Dutch national team. You can never guarantee a player that he will play, but if you bring Bergwijn from Tottenham to Ajax, he has to play.
“The next question is then only where he will play? You have Tadić in his position and on the right you have Antony and Berghuis, so they only get Bergwijn because Haller is going to the Africa Cup for a month. I don’t think Bergwijn should want that”.
That being said, he also knows that’s not something Ajax will be thinking about, simply wanting to cover their backs as their top goalscorer heads off on international duty for a while.
He added: “From Ajax’s perspective I understand it, but I wouldn’t think it wise for Bergwijn. He still plays regularly at Tottenham and if you go to Ajax and then sit on the bench in the Dutch competition, that is not good for your career. That wouldn’t be better for him. He also occasionally plays at Tottenham, so let him sit there”.
We’re not really sure if two league appearances from the bench under Conte counts as ‘regular football’, but we get his point.
At the end of the day, it will be Bergwijn’s decision, but it seems he will need to play more regularly regardless of whether it ends up being at Ajax or elsewhere if he is to enter Louis Van Gaal’s plans going forward.
