Barcelona are interested in signing Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana, according to the player’s agent.
The 22-year-old has impressed in Amsterdam since taking over from Jasper Cillessen in 2016, when the Dutch ‘stopper headed to the Spanish giants.
Could Barca raid Ajax once again? Five key things to know…
- Barca spent £11m to bring goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to the Nou Camp from Ajax in 2016.
- Cameroon international, Andre Onana, subsequently became Ajax’s No.1.
- Cillessen has only managed two La Liga games in three season however, and is reportedly seeking first-team football elsewhere next term.
- As a result, Barca have been strongly linked with Onana, with the player’s agent confirming their interest.
- The Blaugrana already have a deal agreed with Ajax to bring Frenkie de Jong to Spain at the end of the season.
Cillessen, however, has only been able to establish himself as a reliable deputy to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, making just two La Liga appearances since joining the Blaugrana, leading to rumours of a summer exit.
And now it would appear Barca are ready to raid Ajax once again to replace Cillessen with Onana, with midfielder Frenkie de Jong set to make the same move at the end of the season.
“That’s correct. It’s not a secret that Barcelona are interested,” Albert Botines told De Telegraaf.
Onana spent five years in Barcelona’s youth system between 2010 and 2015 after being picked up via Samuel Eto’o’s academy scheme.
Rumours of a return to the Catalan club surfaced late last year.
Ajax CEO, Edwin van der Sar, labelled Onana ‘fantastic’ but expressed a desire to keep the Cameroon international in Amsterdam for a little longer.
“I think Andre is fantastic,” he said in November. “He came to Ajax aged 18 or 19 and the way he developed and the natural attributes that he already had, his speed, his reaction and I think he set himself as a great goalkeeper… I think there are always a lot of rumours about players from Ajax.
We develop great players, not only in Amsterdam but hopefully also in Cape Town and there is interest in a lot of our players, but we like to keep them for as long as possible.”
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Are Barcelona exploiting their Ajax connection
Given the exploits of Johan Cruyff at both clubs, Barcelona and Ajax have shared an affinity for some time.
However, while the Dutch Eredivisie has regressed in the last couple of decades, La Liga has flourished, leading to Barca’s squad and power in the transfer market far outstripping that of the likes of Ajax.
As a result, a number of players have switched Amsterdam for the Catalan region, with Cillessen and, this summer, De Jong just the latest in a long list that also includes Frank and Ronald de Boer.
Ajax’s conveyor belt of talent never seems to slow down, however, with another starlet always in line to take the place of any departures, while the Dutch giants make a huge financial gain over their domestic rivals as a result.
The post Barcelona plotting yet another Ajax raid as agent confirms Onana interest appeared first on Squawka News.
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