Wolves may have to gear themselves up for frustration in January when it comes to Ajax buying Tolu Arokodare on a permanent basis.
As you are likely aware by now, the striker is making waves in Amsterdam. He joined Ajax on loan in the summer transfer window after a turbulent departure from Molineux.
The deal includes an option for Ajax to make it permanent. All indications are that it is valued at around €20m.
That has increasingly looked like a potential bargain in recent weeks. Arokodare has been earning fans on and off the pitch with his performances.
Negotiations started
Earlier this week Sport Witness reported how negotiations over a permanent transfer had already begun. All indications are that Ajax want him and will pay.
That report was very warmly welcomed in the Netherlands. Sport Witness then covered various journalists and pundits singing Arokodare’s praises and urging the Dutch giants to buy him. Indeed, they were told to “buy him in a heartbeat”.
The question is whether Ajax have the money. Their finances are not what they once were.
€20m is a considerable sum for them to pay, particularly after paying the same fee for striker Marcos Leonardo this summer.
In fact, Ajax have only paid €20m or more for a player six times in their history. All of those have happened in the last six years, but it does emphasise the point. It’s a big fee for them to consider.
€20m considered high
Even this summer, the deal for Leonardo was only really possible after selling Sean Steur to Newcastle for €24m and Mika Godts to PSG for €45m. He’s already struggling in the battle with the Wolves loanee for a starting place.
And journalist Johan Inan has concerns about the Arokodare deal.
“Ajax has an option for €20m, but that is going to be a very difficult proposition,” he told the AD Voetbalpodcast.
“Especially if Ajax fails to qualify for the Champions League. If they do reach the Champions League, you know they’ll bring in tens of millions—in that scenario, exercising such an option might be possible.
“Even then, it would require a massive stretch. It would come at the expense of the rest of the transfer budget, so I wonder if it’s actually going to happen.”
