A number of Premier League clubs have been told to look elsewhere for Europe’s next young talent after 18-year-old striker Viktor Fischer signed a contract extension with Ajax until 2017.
Fischer, a product of the Ajax youth academy, is wanted by a host of clubs including Manchester United, favourites for the Premier League title in the English football betting odds, Arsenal and Tottenham, while Serie A giants AC Milan are also eyeing the youngster closely.
However, as sites such as bet365 sports betting news have reported, the Dane has batted away suggestions he is to leave Holland, instead signing a new contract that will see him through the best stages of his development.
It is a smart and promising move for Dutch football, which often sees a drain of the Eredivisie’s hottest talents as soon as they start playing regular football. Ajax have kept their best players until maturity, only letting men like Jan Vertongen, Luis Suarez and Thomas Vermaelen leave when the price is right, and they know they can get much more for Fischer in four years time.
They already have Danish starlet Christian Eriksen in their midst – the attacking midfielder contracted until 2014 – and with Fischer up front the team should give the Europa League a real go this spring.
Many fans in the betting world may bemoan this talent won’t be heading to the Premier League, for Fischer is certainly an exciting player with six goals from 17 appearances in his debut season.
However, the reasoning of sticking with Ajax, developing his abilities as a striker and then moving on to a top European club is far more logical than racing into a league above his standard.
For now, British football fans can watch him in an Ajax shirt as the Dutch club challenge for the Europa League. With a 2-0 first-leg lead over Steaua, Ajax are dead set on reaching the last 16 where they should prove strong enough against any side in this competition.
Fischer has played his fair share of European games and will earn a further cap or two in this knockout stage, where Ajax should at least reach the semi-finals with the strong team they currently posses.
