While the transfer window may be shut, Ajax are not quite done yet in reinforcing the squad. According to De Telegraaf, Ajax are just one of a number of sides keen on signing now former Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 30-year-old is a free agent, having left Tottenham this summer. Other sides from top five leagues are interested in the former Tottenham man, so it is by no means guaranteed that Ajax will land the Malian international.
Yet Ajax have shown an ability to pull in some big named players this summer. Julian Brandt left Borussia Dortmund for Ajax during the recent transfer window and is already proving to be a good signing for the Dutch side.
Bissouma, when fit, would certainly add some quality to the Ajax midfield. Last year the Malian only managed 11 games for Tottenham. Overall, he played 111 games for Tottenham, scoring twice. Prior to that he excelled with Brighton after coming through the Lille system, having moved to France from Real Bamako as a teenager.
GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

#ajax #year

When hundreds of millions of euros and multiple world championships are on the line, how do you actually close the most highly anticipated contract in Formula 1 history? According to a wild new report from the Dutch publication De Telegraaf, you fire up Microsoft Office.
While the astronomical financial figures of Max Verstappen's new Red Bull extension have dominated the paddock rumor mill, the behind-the-scenes mechanics of how the Milton Keynes squad convinced him to sign the August paperwork are just as fascinating. It required an executive-level corporate pitch, starring Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies.
According to the Dutch outlet, the roadmap to securing Verstappen's signature began with a detailed PowerPoint presentation delivered by Mekies.
As the man steering the Red Bull ship, Mekies knew that a blank check wouldn't be enough to secure a hyper-competitive, four-time World Champion. Verstappen doesn't just want to be the highest-paid driver on the grid; he wants a guarantee that he will be fighting for ****** les at the end of the decade. With rival teams aggressively circling to poach him for the future, Mekies took a deeply ****** ytical approach, bringing a slide deck to the negotiating table.
Because the sweeping 2026 engine regulations are already in full effect and the Red Bull Ford Powertrains project is successfully navigating its inaugural season, Mekies wasn't pitching an unknown vision for 2026. He was pitching sustained dominance for the next era.

#mekies #dutch #World #telegraaf

Liverpool reportedly showed "concrete interest" in Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven earlier this summer, with fresh details emerging after the Netherlands international committed his future to the north London club.
According to De Telegraaf, Liverpool made an approach for Van de Ven in June while uncertainty remained over his contractual situation at Spurs.
The defender has now signed a new agreement with Tottenham, effectively closing the door on any immediate move away.
Liverpool's interest makes considerable sense when viewed through the circumstances surrounding the club this summer.
Andoni Iraola inherited a squad requiring reinforcement at centre-back, and Van de Ven represented the sort of defender who could immediately alter the physical capabilities of Liverpool's back line.

#defender #Liverpool #back #hotspur

Mike Verweij of De Telegraaf is reporting that Ajax are set to bring in Diego Pugno from Juventus on loan. The Amsterdam club have also agreed a purchase option of just €1m with Juventus for the 20-year-old. It appears that, initially at least, Pugno will play for Jong Ajax in the second tier of Dutch football. The young Juventus forward looks to be the latest signing by Jordi Cruijff who has been incredibly active at Ajax already this summer.
Pugno has spent most of his time in recent seasons with the Juventus youth teams, although he did play one game for the side during the 2024/2025 season. He will join a Jong Ajax side that finished last season in 20th place with just 35 points from 38 games. The side only managed nine wins and conceded 73 goals in that time. Pugno will hopefully contribute at the other end, with the side having scored 50 goals. If he impresses, he may well earn some playing time with the Ajax first team. Given the relatively low purchase fee included in the loan deal, it really is a low risk high reward move for Ajax.
GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson

Virgil van Dijk has come under intense scrutiny in his homeland following the Netherlands’ dramatic World Cup exit, with one of the country’s most outspoken football columnists launching a remarkable attack on the Liverpool captain.
The Dutch were knocked out by Morocco after a penalty shootout, having conceded a late equaliser that forced the tie into extra time. While the defeat prompted widespread disappointment across the Netherlands, much of the post-match discussion centred on Van Dijk’s performance and his role in the decisive goal.
Original reporting from De Telegraaf highlighted the strength of feeling following the result, with columnist Valentijn Driessen delivering one of the harshest ****** sments of the experienced defender’s international career.
Photo IMAGO
Driessen reserved little sympathy for either Van Dijk or departing Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman, claiming both had let the national team down through tactical decisions and defensive shortcomings.

The 2026 Formula 1 season has pushed Red Bull Racing to its absolute limit, but the team is preparing an unprecedented, multi-million-dollar counterattack for their home race.
Facing the genuine threat of losing Max Verstappen, Milton Keynes is executing a dual-front strategy ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix: delivering their most critical engineering upgrade of the year while the company’s highest tier of ownership steps in with an aggressive financial package.
On the technical side, Red Bull is pushing all its chips into the middle of the table. According to a report from De Telegraaf journalist Erik van Haren, the team is introducing an overhaul that surpasses their previous major development steps. The update is explicitly described as the “most important upgrade package of the year,” designed to alter the behavior of the RB22 chassis fundamentally.
The primary objective of these new parts is curing the car’s chronic weight issues. At the start of the 2026 campaign, the car rolled out a staggering 12 kilograms overweight. While a previous upgrade package in Miami managed to slice that deficit down significantly, the upgrades arriving in Austria are engineered to finally bring the car down to the absolute minimum weight limit.
Shedding this remaining bulk is expected to unlock a massive chunk of lap time, giving Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar the performance baseline they need to fight at the front.

Liverpool’s summer is beginning to look less like a transfer window and more like a statement of intent. According to Mike Verweij of the Telegraaf, the Reds have made contact over Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven, with Barcelona also said to be “knocking on the door”.
For Andoni Iraola, this would be a significant move. Liverpool have already added Victor Munoz from Osasuna, but the possible pursuit of Van de Ven points to a wider rebuild.
The Dutch defender has been described as “world-class”, and it is easy to see why. His recovery pace, composure and ability to defend large **** es would appear tailor-made for a Liverpool side expected to press high and play with aggression.
Ibrahima Konate’s move to Real Madrid has changed the picture. Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni may be talented, but neither has played a Premier League minute. That makes Van de Ven a different type of target, proven, powerful and already adjusted to English football.

Barcelona have stepped up their search for a left-footed centre-back ahead of the summer transfer window, and a new name is now gaining serious attention.
According to reports from the Netherlands, Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has emerged as one of the players being closely monitored by the Catalan giants.
The Dutch international has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for Tottenham.
While the North London side struggled for consistency and found themselves under pressure for large parts of the campaign, Van de Ven continued to strengthen his reputation as one of the most reliable young defenders in European football.
As reported by De Telegraaf, both Barcelona and Liverpool are following Van de Ven’s situation closely as they look to reinforce their defensive units.