Ajax swoop for World Cup star Ounahi

The future of Azzedine Ounahi, one of the standout names of the World Cup, is pointing towards Amsterdam. According to Fabrizio Romano's exclusive report, Ajax are holding active talks to sign Girona's Moroccan midfielder; negotiations are ongoing on both the clubs' and the player's side.

At the centre of the bargaining lies a clear figure. Ounahi's contract with Girona, which runs until 2030, contains a €25 million release clause, and that clause serves as the benchmark for a potential deal. According to reports, Ajax are negotiating to bring the fee below that figure; Girona, meanwhile, have previously rejected lower offers and continue to stand firm behind the clause.

The key figure behind the transfer is Ajax's new head coach Míchel. The Spanish manager, who knows Ounahi closely from their time together at Girona, has identified the Moroccan as one of his priority targets. Míchel is said to believe that the player's technique in tight spaces, ball-carrying ability and capacity to change the rhythm of a game will bring the creativity Ajax's midfield needs.

The 26-year-old star's value peaked with his World Cup performances. Scoring twice in six matches at the tournament, Ounahi was the creative engine of Morocco's historic run to a second consecutive quarterfinal; playing an important role in the wins over the Netherlands and Canada, the Moroccan star's journey ended with the 2-0 quarterfinal defeat to France. Girona's relegation from La Liga also makes a departure inevitable. The fact that the player, who joined from Marseille for €6 million last summer, has seen his value roughly quadruple in a year lays bare the scale of this transfer.

Source: Fabrizio Romano
Image: Yahoo Sports