Ajax boss Erik ten Hag believes that a player from their academy could step up next season and replace Matthijs de Ligt or Frenkie de Jong.

Frenkie de Jong has already left Ajax this summer for Barcelona, while Matthijs de Ligt is set to join Juventus this week.

De Telegraaf asked Erik ten Hag about the task of replacing the young duo and the Ajax boss stated he can see someone from the academy stepping up just like De Jong did last season.

He said, “When we started last year, Frenkie had never played in midfield at Ajax. We all know how it ended. Eventually he became indispensable for Ajax, indispensable for Dutch football. Why could that not happen this year with a player?”

The loss of De Ligt and De Jong did not come as a surprise for Ten Hag, “We had known for a long time that this was about to happen. If it does happen, then it is good that it is happening now. There is a place free and other boys have to fill it.”

Perr Schuurs has come into the Ajax line-up during pre-season to replace De Ligt, but the club are still hoping to sign Edson Alvarez. Ravzan Marin has joined to replace Frenkie de Jong but must battle Carel Eiting for a spot in the starting eleven.




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