Erwin Koeman surprised by Southampton transfer, speaks at length, thinks it’s brilliant

De Telegraaf once again sound pretty sure that Dusan Tadic to Ajax is a real thing and will happen for €17.1m.

When the Dutch newspaper started their claims, a lot of people thought it had to be nonsense (including us) because of the money difference and that Tadic wouldn’t get the wages at Ajax he could demand elsewhere.

But it’s clearly been an excellent scoop from De Telegraaf and further underlines their sources at Ajax.

In Friday’s edition, there’s a big interview with Erwin Koeman, all about the move. Erwin was assistant to his brother Ronald at Southampton, and he’s also surprised by the transfer.

Speaking to De Telegraaf, Koeman explained: “For Dutch football it’s great that such a boy comes to play in the Eredivisie. If a club succeeds, it is worth a compliment. Dusan is a top professional and a good person, a huge enthusiast. Ajax gets a fantastic player in every respect.

“He has a lot of quality, can play in different places. I think he prefers to be in the number-10 position, but at Southampton we often used him as left-hand or right-hand on the inside. In a free role he is really good, between the lines a nuisance. Dusan is a slightly different player than Hakim Ziyech, but I think Ajax is not going to get worse, because he can play in multiple positions and is more experienced.”

Koeman also believes that having Tadic at the club will benefit Ajax’s young talents: “For such guys it is very nice that there is such an internationally experienced boy. Dusan is enormously driven. After the training he always continues. Whether it is inside the gym or outside with the ball.”

The move being a surprise is shared by Koeman but he thinks Tadic is choosing to return to the Netherlands because he felt good there and because there are coaches at Ajax who he worked with previously at FC Twente: “The Premier League is still the competition. Everyone wants to play there. And he has played successfully there for four years. He came sixth and seventh with us and ended the following year eighth. Only last year was very disappointing. But Dusan is incredibly popular in Southampton. 

“It surprises me that he returns to the Eredivisie, because he has renewed his contract with Southampton in the meantime and earns money there, which he normally will never be able to get at Ajax. Maybe the choice for the Netherlands also has to do with his family, because I know that he always had a great time in Groningen and Enschede. And at Ajax he can play for the prizes. 

“Dusan is very dependent on his family, but also on acquaintances. Once you have a warm relationship with him, that is for life. Ronald and I also have a great contact with him.”

It’s clear just how done a deal De Telegraaf believe this one is.