Ajax’s Struggles in Securing a Promising Midfielder

Ajax’s pursuit of a new central midfielder has proven fruitless as the winter transfer window comes to a close. In the final days of the transfer period, the club made an attempt to secure Hidemasa Morita from Sporting Portugal, but negotiations were unsuccessful due to the uncooperative stance of Morita’s current club. Discussions also took place with Stije Resink, but these efforts also did not yield any results.

The club’s attempts to acquire various midfielders have consistently fallen through. Lentin Goodijk, a club analyst, commented in a video for Voetbal International, “It is a disappointing outcome after an extensive search. It is quite remarkable that the club has still not succeeded. In summary, prioritization during the summer transfer window played a significant role, as other positional needs emerged, leaving little room for a central midfielder.”

Goodijk further noted that Ajax’s strategy in the rental market may have been somewhat risky, resulting in missed opportunities. The club initially focused on players from top leagues, considering names like Manuel Ugarte, Daley Blind, Christian Nørgaard, Wataru Endo, Edson Álvarez, and Fred. While Morita was also on their radar, complications arose when his replacement at Sporting Portugal failed to pass a medical examination. “Ajax has genuinely explored numerous avenues,” he concluded.