Ajax bidding for Manchester United defender Daley Blind

Manchester United's Daley Blind could be set to return to AFC Ajax. Photo: Reuters / Dylan Martinez

Manchester United's Daley Blind could be set to return to AFC Ajax. Photo: Reuters / Dylan Martinez

Published Jul 9, 2018

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MANCHESTER - Ajax Amsterdam are eager to re-sign defender Daley Blind from Manchester United if the Dutch side fail to recruit Boca Juniors centre-back Lisandro Magallan, the Eredivisie club's manager Erik ten Hag has said.

The 28-year-old Blind, who progressed through Ajax's youth system and made over 100 senior appearances for the Dutch side, joined United in 2014 but appears to be out of favour under Jose Mourinho. "We are doing everything, but it also depends on other parties," Ten Hag is quoted as saying by Sky Sports about his desire to sign the 28-year-old Blind.

The 'other parties', not only referred to United but also Boca Juniors, where the 24-year-old Magallan has been since 2012 and for whom he helped retain Argentina's top-flight title last season. "He is still in the picture, but whether he actually arrives is still unclear," Ten Hag added about Magallan. "It will be either one of Magallan or Blind. Both of them do not seem realistic."

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Danny Batth believes the club's recent high-profile recruits - Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Mexican striker Raul Jimenez -- are an indicator of just how ambitious the promoted Premier League side have become. 

Patricio represents Wolves' biggest coup so far in this transfer window, with the 30-year-old making more than 450 appearances for Sporting Lisbon and earning 73 caps for Portugal, the most recent at this year's World Cup. Loan-signing Jimenez joined from Portuguese side Benfica, where he scored 31 goals in 120 matches. The 27-year-old, who has 13 goals in 65 caps for Mexico, was part of the team that reached the last 16 of the World Cup in Russia.

"I think it's a great marker for the club," Batth told the Express & Star. "Hopefully they integrate with the group, the same as last year, when the players we signed bed straight in and really add to what we've got. Rui's obviously a top goalkeeper playing with top players on the international stage. That experience and success and being a winner is going to add a lot to our dressing room."

Wolves won the second-tier Championship last season to earn promotion back to the top-flight for the first time since 2012 and are preparing for their return with six pre-season fixtures, the first against Switzerland's FC Basel on Tuesday.

Reuters

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