Ahmetcan Kaplan's impending move to NEC is causing plenty of confusion among Ajax supporters, mainly because of the €2.5 million transfer fee. On Ajax Showtime, fans say the Amsterdam club are letting the defender go for far too little, especially with him joining an Eredivisie rival who, in previous talks with Ajax, were in their view much tougher in negotiations.
"€2.5 million is just peanuts, isn't it? Weak, Jordi (Cruijff, ed.)," one supporter writes. Another fan calls it "very poor" and says that €2.5 million is "a joke", while someone else believes Ajax should have demanded at least double. "I really thought he was quite a good player for us. Of course he has little prospect now, but Blind will also only keep playing for a maximum of one or two more years," it also says.
For another group of supporters, the bigger issue is that Kaplan is joining NEC. "For €2.5 million you could have sold him to plenty of other clubs. I would never have granted NEC this after Sano. They ask Ajax top dollar, but want to sit in the front row for a dime themselves," one fan writes. Another supporter is just as unhappy: "All well and good, but this is simply giving them a helping hand. It does not happen the other way around."
Some have even called it a "mates' rates deal", an agreement they feel mainly suits NEC and Kaplan. "A little less so for Ajax. If we come for Nejasmic, it is at least ten million," someone writes. Another reaction reads: "NEC want to sit in the front row for a dime everywhere, but all their own players have to be sold for top dollar." Several fans therefore hope Ajax can count on the same willingness in future negotiations with NEC.
Others, though, do understand the decision to sell Kaplan now. One supporter accepts that €2.5 million is not the ideal amount, but points to the circumstances. "He is injured yet again, has an extensive injury history and only has ten months left on his contract. I do not think much more would have been possible. On top of that, you free up room on the wage bill." According to De Telegraaf , Ajax are saving €1.3 million in Kaplan's wages through the transfer.
That last point comes up strikingly often. "He never plays, has achieved nothing, is injured, earns €1.3 million in wages and only has one year left on his contract. This is a top deal," one fan writes.
"The problem lies more in the fact that he was signed at the time for a ridiculous fee and was given a bizarre salary. Just part ways and make room." Other supporters also suspect Jordi Cruijff mainly wants to create room in the wage structure.