Monday, 26th August, 2013
Ajax have confirmed that in-demand defender Toby Alderweireld was subject to a below-par bid from Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Alderweireld's transfer saga has taken him from Norwich to Liverpool to Russian clubs – he very nearly joined Spartak Moscow – to Italy to interest from Spain at present.
Last week saw reports emerge that Atletico Madrid had made an offer, but it was believed to be very easy to refuse for Ajax.
The Eredivisie giants are understood to be expecting €7.5m for Alderweireld, who has just a year left on his Ajax deal.
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And the club's director of football Marc Overmars was today quoted by Dutch daily De Telegraaf as saying: "We rejected Atletico Madrid's bid for Toby Alderweireld.
"We were contacted over the weekend but we did not consider the bid as suitable for a Belgian international."
Alderweireld is also being courted by Napoli manager Rafael Benitez, who is keen to find a quick "replacement" after losing out on Liverpool's Martin Skrtel.
The move to Spartak Moscow fell through at the last minute after claims that Alderweireld's wage demands were not suitable for the Russian outfit.
All eyes are now on the final stretch of the transfer window with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Napoli the player's most likely destinations should he leave Ajax.
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