Erik ten Hag left Ajax this summer to takeover the Manchester United job after five years with the Dutch champions. However, he took away two of their key-players as well, even wanting to acquire more. Versatile center-back Lisandro Martinez and winger Antony followed their former boss at United, as he splashed a combined £136 million on their signings.
Meanwhile, former Ajax coach Aad de Mos now claims that Ten Hag could once again come calling to acquire the services of the Eredivisie side’s one of the promising stars. Mos was talking about Ajax’s 20-year-old midfielder Kenneth Taylor, who is delivering some brilliant performances for the club. Taylor mainly operates as a central midfielder, and Mos has asserted that now or later, United will certainly poach the player.
Mos predicts Erik ten Hag will want Taylor next summer, along with other big clubs
Aad de Mos, who managed Ajax for three years from 1982 to 1985has been following the club since retiring in 2010. The former manager has now explained what makes Kenneth Taylor a special player, after his stunning displays for the Eredivisie champions. Taylor, a product of the brilliant Ajax academy made his debut for the first-team back in 2020/21 season, and has now become a regular with them.
This season as well, he has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in 7 league games so far. The youngster also recently made his international debut for his country the Netherlands, featuring for 15 minutes against Poland in the Nations League. Mos predicts it won’t be too long before big clubs in Barcelona and Real Madrid circle around the midfielder, with Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United also in the queue given the manager knows him inside out. Mos told Voetbal Nieuws:
“He [Kenneth Taylor] will be the revelation of the Oranje [the Netherlands] at the [upcoming] World Cup. He is already one of the best players on the field at Ajax. He will stay for another year after this, then it will be Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United.
“If there are two buses parked in front of him, he knows how to make the right choices towards the strikers or players in his area. And he is two-footed. If the team is compact, you don’t have to be afraid. He has an iron will to defend and has a good head. A very talented player.”
Mos has already hyped the 20-year-old, who will certainly dream to play for one of the clubs the former manager has mentioned. On the other hand, United are currently stacked in the central midfield position with Christian Eriksen signed this summer, to add to the already available options of Fred and Donny van de Beek. However, Ten Hag won’t pass the opportunity to sign Taylor, whom he handed his debut at Ajax.
But it will be equally important to see whether the Dutch giants let another of their talents leave next summer. Taylor has inked a long-term contract at Ajax this summer, keeping him at the club through the summer of 2027. The club has already lost important players such as Antony, Lisandro Martinez, Ryan Granvenberch, Noussair Mazraoui, Sebastian Haller this summer, and are now replacing them. Amidst such a revolution, it is highly unlikely that Ajax let Taylor leave as early as next summer.