Newcastle United became the club with the richest owners in the Premier League after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund completed their purchase of the Tyneside club earlier this month.
The Magpies’ new owners plan to build a competitive squad in the coming years, to take them to the top, and to do that, Ajax director of football, Marc Overmars, has been identified as one of the candidates.
For the past week or so, reports from the Dutch press, especially De Telegraaf, have been pushing the former Arsenal man towards Newcastle.
On Wednesday, De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen stressed Overmars will leave Ajax if he gets a chance to take the director’s job at St James’ Park. Their manager, Erik ten Hag, has also been reported as a candidate to replace Steve Bruce.
Despite various claims made by De Telegraaf in the past few days, Voetbal International editor-in-chief Freek Jansen, who closely follows developments at the Eredivisie club, believes Overmars and Ten Hag will not leave Ajax for the English club.
“Ten Hag stands out everywhere. He delivers a stand-out performance. I think all clubs will be lining up for him after this season,” Jansen said.
Regarding Overmars, Jansen explained: “I also have the feeling that Overmars is in such a good place now, together with Edwin van der Sar and Ten Hag. If he can pull this off and he can still make a step, then you think of him more like Arsenal or Barcelona. The clubs where he has played.”
VI’s title has a quote that states: “There will be more beautiful clubs than Newcastle United for Overmars and Ten Hag.” This comment is likely to have come from Jansen.
