ESPN: Ajax reject initial offer from Chelsea for Jorrel Hato, send counteroffer

Front page news in the Netherlands: Ajax have rejected the “first official offer” from Chelsea for Jorrel Hato. But that’s just the beginning of the dance of course.The important takeaway here is that, if true, negotiations are now fully underway. And in fact, the report from ESPN adds that Ajax have sent a counteroffer alongside their rejection, so while they are said to want to keep the 19-year-old left back, it’s more like they want to keep him until their asking price is met.There are no specific financial details in this report, but the price tag was previously said to be around €40m … though other reports have put that a bit higher, around €50m instead. I suppose if we’re ready to spent €40m, another few million won’t break the bank.Ajax are currently in Italy, playing in a preseason tournament. Hato was kept out of Thursday’s semifinal, though the official line is that he was just feeling ready for it physically. “He’s still an Ajax player. He doesn’t yet know if he’ll play in Sunday’s final.“I can’t promise anything. We still have to train, and it’s still a few days. But he and [Kenneth] Taylor are still Ajax players at the moment.”-Johnny Heitinga, head coach; source: ESPNTransferitis can be a serious condition, and you should talk to your doctor about it.