Ajax exclude Bassey from pre-season tour amid Fulham links

Ajax have excluded Calvin Bassey from their squad that is set to travel to Germany for the pre-season tour to allow the player complete a move to Fulham, according to De Telegraaf.

Fulham have agreed a €21 million transfer fee with the Eredivisie giants for Bassey, fending off competition from their Premier League counterparts Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Cottagers still have to agree personal terms with the high rated centre back who is poised to be Fulham’s first summer signing of the Premier League transfer window.

The Nigeria international defender only joined Ajax from Rangers last season in a €23m move after his hugely impressive performances for the Scottish Premiership giants.

Bassey is versatile enough to feature as a centre-back and as a left full-back. He will serve as a replacement for Tosin Adarabioyo, who has failed to agree a contract extension with the Cottagers.

The likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan have been alerted to Adarabioyo’s situation at Craven Cottage and are weighing up a move for the towering 25-year-old centre-back.

Fulham are reluctant to let the impressive defender leave, but they are keen to recoup a transfer fee for the Englishman and avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.

Meanwhile, Ajax have approached German side VfB Stuttgart for striker Serhou Guirassy who has been identified as one of the candidates to reinforce the striking department.

De Telegraaf reports that the 27-year-old striker is valued at €15m and is open to joining the Eredivisie giants following an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga.

Guirassy netted 14 times in 28 appearances across all competitions, including a goal and an assist in the Bundesliga play-offs against Hamburger to help Stuttgart avoid relegation.

The Guinea international centre forward will provide competition for Brian Bobbey in the Ajax attack, especially with Mohammed Kudus linked with a move to the Premier League.

Albeit a natural midfielder, the Ghanaian is also capable of playing as a centre-forward but has been linked with a summer move to Chelsea.