Ajax face Champions League competition for Tiknizyan
Ajax are in the race for Red Star Belgrade left-back Nair Tiknizyan, but they are not alone. RC Lens and Olympiakos, both Champions League sides, are also pushing for the 26-year-old Armenian international, valued at around €3.7 million (1).
For a club rebuilding from fifth place and hungry for defensive reinforcements, this is the kind of smart-market move that makes sense. The question is whether Ajax can sell their project over Champions League nights elsewhere.
Ter Stegen links hit salary and fitness obstacles
Marca reports that Marc-André ter Stegen's salary demands and his physical condition could be sticking points in any potential move to Amsterdam (2).
Ajax have been linked with the Barcelona goalkeeper, but the financial realities are sobering. For a club operating outside the Champions League, matching the wages of a player at Ter Stegen's level is a serious hurdle. Add fitness concerns into the mix and the deal looks complicated at best.
