The final weeks of the transfer window will be very busy for Ajax. Jordi Cruijff wants to make at least four signings, and he is also looking to sell several players.

One position Ajax want to strengthen is the defence, but they first need to sell players in that position.

NEC Nijmegen have reached an agreement with Ajax to sign Ahmetcan Kaplan for a fee of around €2.5 million, which could rise to €3 million through bonuses. Ajax are also looking to sell Josip Sutalo and Ko Itakura.

Sutalo has attracted interest from Benfica, but the Portuguese giants are seemingly prioritising a move for Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Lazio are also reportedly interested in Sutalo, and there is also said to be interest from the Premier League. 

Itakura is attracting interest from his former club Borussia Monchengladbach, although nothing is seeminlgy advanced as of now.

Ajax are interested in Lutsharel Geertruida and have explored a deal for the former Feyenoord defender. Geertruida can play as a centre-back or right-back, and also as a defensive midfielder. It has been reported that Michel Sanchez wants a right-back who can stay deep and become a third centre-back in possession. Geertruida fits this profile, and he would also give Michel an experienced option at right centre-back.

While Ajax are interested in Geertruida, PSV Eindhoven are leading the race to sign the RB Leipzig defender.

According to Eindhovens Dagblad, Geertruida is keen on a move to PSV, and a move to the Eindhovenaren is his preference, despite interest from Ajax. The Eredivisie champions have an agreement on personal terms with Geertruida. 

Given Geertruida's current salary, a permanent transfer is not realistic for PSV, and they therefore want to sign him on loan. It had seemed that Leipzig was willing to cooperate with a loan deal last week, but nothing has progressed so far. PSV hope to finalise the matter this week.

Ajax have spoken with Geertruida's representatives, but according to the report from the Eindhovens Dagblad, the chances of him moving to Amsterdam are slim.

Leipzig prefers to sell Geertruida permanently. PSV have made it clear they are only open to a loan deal, but Ajax could make a permanent offer, having now sold Mika Godts to Paris Saint-Germain for a total package of €55 million.

Ajax have, till now, been exploring a loan deal for Geertruida. However, it was reported by De Telegraaf recently that Ajax could make an €18 million offer to sell Geertruida after selling Godts.

Even if Ajax can reach an agreement with Leipzig, convincing Geertruida will likely be difficult, given his past with Feyenoord and also his preference to join PSV this summer.

Ajax also have bigger priorities right now, namely a left winger, right winger and defensive midfielder. Spending such a large sum of money on a defender would therefore not be wise, although Ajax probably do need to sign a centre-back in the next few weeks.