Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1111510
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 1 MAY 2019 20 FOOTBALL SPORTS THEY were summer transfers that barely raised an eyebrow - but now look to be two of the signings of the season. Deemed surplus to require- ments at their Premier League clubs, Ajax signed 30-year-old Dusan Tadic from Southamp- ton for £10m and Daley Blind, 29, from Manchester United for an initial £14m. Fast forward nine months and it looks to be an astute piece of business by the Dutch club. Serbia forward Tadic has just scored his 34th goal and regis- tered his 21st assist of the sea- son, while Blind has formed a formidable defensive partner- ship with 19-year-old captain and Netherlands team-mate Matthijs de Ligt. And the pair are now a key part of Ajax's treble-chasing team. While Tadic and Blind's transfer fees may seem cheap in Premier League terms, for Ajax and the Dutch top flight they are considered expensive purchases - the club's record signing is still Serbia winger Miralem Sulejmani, who they bought for £14.63m in 2008. Dutch football expert Elko Born says the club have re- cently altered their transfer strategy by raising their salary cap and bringing in more expe- rienced players. Ajax manager Erik ten Hag said he and director of football Marc Overmars decided at the end of last season that their side "lacked experience - play- ers in their mid-20s". "It was a pretty big step to take, but the investment has paid off," Born tells BBC Sport. "The combination of the rise of Frenkie de Jong and De Ligt, two of the biggest talents in Eu- rope and astute clever signings for a lot of money, has seen the stars align for Ajax." Tadic rivalling Europe's best Tadic scored 24 goals in 162 games for Southampton in four years, but he has surpassed that tally already in just 51 matches for Ajax. He is second behind PSV Ein- dhoven's Luuk de Jong, who has 27 goals, in the Eredivisie scoring charts, among the top domestic goalscorers in Eu- rope and second only to Bar- celona forward Lionel Messi for goal contributions in the Champions League. Ajax have scored 160 goals this season - the most ever by a Dutch club - and Tadic has been involved in 34% of them. Two of those assists and one of the goals came in the 4-1 demolition of Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champi- ons League - a display which earned him a rare 10/10 rating from prestigious French news- paper L'Equipe. "Ajax fans are not used to buying players from the Pre- mier League," says Born. "They remember Tadic from his time at [Dutch clubs] Groningen and FC Twente and expected big things. But he has had an amazing season, better than they expected." Ten Hag gave Tadic a free role in his side. He often plays from the left wing but has led the line on European nights as a false nine. He and Morocco attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech are Ajax's creators - afforded the freedom by playing in front of midfielders De Jong, Lasse Schone and Donny van de Beek. Tadic has said he was "tired" of the Premier League, sug- gesting that offensive players do not get enough protection from referees. "The Premier League might have been been too physical for him - but he really suits Ajax's style of play," adds Born. "They are a technical team who want the ball and pierce their way through the defence with clev- er football." Such has been Tadic's suc- cess this season, he is already being linked with a move away from the club - not that Ten Hag thinks he can go any higher. "We are in the semi-finals of the Champions League, at which higher level should he be able to compete?" Ten Hag said earlier in April. "He has had a lot of fun in this role and an incredible return. I think he has never achieved such a return. He has already taken that step to a higher lev- el." Premier League 'rejects' chase Ajax Champions League glory Dusan Tadic