Ajax Faces Dilemma as Youri Baas Remains Injured

Ajax must hope for the swift return of Youri Baas to Fred Grim’s squad. According to statistics cited by Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf, the left-footed central defender is indispensable for the team. Baas was absent during the disappointing 6-0 defeat against AZ on Wednesday evening due to injury.

‘For Ajax fans, the hope is that the captain, even without the armband, will return soon.’

Last season, Baas firmly established himself as a central defender under Francesco Farioli. The 22-year-old, initially accustomed to playing as a wing-back, was transformed into a central defender by the Italian coach, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke. Baas’s significance became painfully clear during the critical stages of the past season. Verweij noted in De Telegraaf that Baas’s absence due to a groin injury during the final stretch of the season cost Ajax dearly in their championship race against PSV.

Is This Baas’s Last Season at Ajax?

The fact that Baas has emerged as one of Ajax’s key players over the past season and a half has not gone unnoticed by several top European clubs. According to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur, the competition for the Ajax player’s signature is heating up. Reportedly, five clubs from the Premier League, one from the Bundesliga, and one from Ligue 1 are vying for Baas. The clubs interested include Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Olympique Lyon, and Borussia Dortmund. Konur suggests that Ajax would be satisfied with a fee between 25 and 30 million euros for the left-back. It remains unclear whether this valuation applies to a potential departure in the winter transfer window.