4 Ways Ajax Could Replace Barcelona-bound Frenkie De Jong

Sander Berge

Sander Berge plays for KRC Genk in the Belgian Pro League.

Sander Berge is a vibrant 21-year-old central midfielder from Norway who plays for KRC Genk. He is one of those rare crop of midfielders who has a good blend of technique, physique and high work-rate. His 6-feet-4-inch frame makes him a commanding figure at the heart of midfield and it is the sort of physical presence that Ajax have not had in a long while.

However, the surprise element about the Norweigan is how good he is on the ball despite his height and the not-so-low centre of gravity. When Berge is in possession, he exhibits a combination of silk and steel that is simply exquisite.

Similar to De Jong, he often drops deep closer to the center-backs and conduct the play into the middle and final third. Berge has the knack of doing it seamlessly thanks to his ability to break the lines either through his sleek passing or sudden bursts of dribbling. This makes it difficult for the opponents to press or dispossess him, exactly what Ajax would be looking to add to their muddle in the middle.

In the on-going season, Berge has been a key player for Genk, with some of his most impressive displays coming in the Europa League campaign. In 4 Europe League starts, the Norwegian had 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 key passes and 4 completed dribbles. While Berge has contributed to the attack, he also helps out defensively, in those 4 games, he also had 8 tackles, 6 interceptions and won 10 aerial duels. He also helped in retaining possession as he averaged 67 passes per game at a completion rate of 87%.

As the numbers show, Berge is a total package that can bring firm control to the midfield as he’s adept in all departments of the game. Should Ajax be successful in signing this gem, there’s no doubt that the transition from De Jong would be seamless. According to various reports, Ajax already have him on their radar, with the fee around the £15-20 million mark.