Riechedly Bazoer is all set for a January move away from Ajax, manager Peter Bosz has confirmed
Reports emerged last month that both Arsenal and Chelsea were trying to snap up the youngster, and it now appears that a move – possibly to one of those clubs – is in the works for the Dutch international.
Bazoer joined Ajax from PSV in the 2012-2013 season under somewhat controversial circumstances, but was only allowed to play for the club in the 2013-14 after the KNVB made a ruling that Bazoer was only eligible for the first team after he turned 16. The fact that Ajax went through all of this trouble to sign Bazoer says a lot about his talent.
It is somewhat surprising, then, that manager Peter Bosz has now confirmed that Bazoer will be sold in January .
“Riechedly and I had a good conversation on Saturday afternoon. He told me that his transfer is in the final phase, and I also understood this from Marc (Overmars, who is the director of football at Ajax),” he said, according to the club’s official website.
“We play three very important matches in the next eight days. In between those games, we have scheduled three rehabilitation courses and two tactical training sessions. He will not be a part of these sessions, as he has a view to a new club.”
“I want to work with the players who are focused on our next opponent, which is why I gave him freedom from these sessions. We shook hands and parted in a good way.”
Bazoer would apparently be available for as little as £12.5m, despite once being valued at £25m. The youngster has made only 8 appearances for Ajax this season, and 3 of those have come as a substitute. Bazoer is yet to register a goal or an assist for Ajax this season, and has clearly played his last game for them.
Bazoer made his debut in the Dutch national team at the age of 19 and has already earned 6 caps. That same year, the midfielder also played his 61st game in Ajax’s first team, earning him the Marco van Basten Trophy for Talent of the Year at the Dutch side. A good passer of the ball, Bazoer mostly played as one of the midfield 3 in a 4-3-3 formation under Frank De Boer.
With Arsenal being well-stocked in midfield, it seems more likely that Chelsea is Bazoer’s next destination, and for a midfielder with the kind of passing ability he has, Bazoer would fit in well into a system that focuses on quick transitions from defence to attack.
