Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder has taken a swipe at Erik ten Hag for trying to sign his players and gave an update on the futures of Manchester United targets Antony and Jurrien Timber.
Ten Hag wants to bring Brazilian winger Antony and Dutch defender Timber to Old Trafford this summer.
The 52-year-old knows he needs to improve his United team after the team’s recent struggles and has also expressed interest in signing Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.
After taking charge of his first training session as Ajax head coach, Schreuder was asked about his predecessor’s interest in some of his players.
He said: ‘Erik knows that he should not buy players from Ajax. I’m kidding. You never know in football. ‘But it is not important to me to talk about Erik or United. We have to talk about Ajax and we know that we are a very big and strong club.’
Schreuder is confident Timber will stay at the club but was less resolute about the future of Antony.
Asked about the speculation surrounding Timber, the new Ajax manager said: ‘I hope that is settled. ‘I think this boy is very smart. He knows very well what is good for himself to develop. And I think he is not finished at Ajax.
‘As I spoke to him, he knows very well what he is doing And if you also see him play in the Dutch national team and play at Ajax: that makes you happy. ‘I hope he will stay and I assume that.’
On Antony, Schreuder added: ‘Clearly we want to keep that boy. He has a contract until 2025. ‘But I’m not about that. I’m about the line-up. And I really want to work with him, he knows that and the club knows that too.’
Ten Hag led Ajax to the Eredivisie title last campaign but takes over a Manchester United team who finished just sixth in the Premier League last season.
