Liverpool Targets Ajax Star Mika Godts Amidst European Competition

Liverpool’s summer rebuild on the flanks is gathering pace – and the next battle could be with half of Europe for one of Ajax’s rising stars.

They have already made a decisive move once. Osasuna winger Victor Munoz arrived at Anfield for £35 million after Liverpool beat Newcastle United to the 22-year-old’s signature, a clear statement that Andoni Iraola wants more dynamism and depth on the left side.

That was only meant to be the start.

Liverpool had been weighing up an £86 million offer for RB Leipzig forward Yan Diomande, a marquee move that would have reshaped their attack. Diomande, though, now looks bound for Real Madrid, forcing the recruitment team on Merseyside to pivot quickly and aggressively.

And that is where Mika Godts enters the frame.

Godts puts Europe on alert

The Ajax winger has not just emerged; he has exploded into wider view.

Last season, Godts produced what were described as “superstar” numbers: 17 goals and 15 assists in 44 appearances. For a 21-year-old still learning the finer points of the game at the top level, those are not just promising figures – they are the kind that jolt sporting directors into action.

He has carried that form straight into the new campaign. Ajax have opened their UEFA Conference League qualifying campaign with back-to-back 4-1 wins over Vojvodina, and Godts has registered an assist in both matches, keeping his output ticking over and his profile rising.

Those performances have done exactly what Ajax players’ performances tend to do: drawn a crowd.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham have all been credited with interest. Each of them is searching, in different ways, for a wide player who can both score and create, someone young enough to grow into a system yet already productive enough to change games immediately.

Now Liverpool have joined that queue.

Reports list the Reds among the potential suitors, and if they truly want Godts, they may not have the luxury of time. The market around him is moving.

PSG make their move

The warning shot came at the weekend.

Clubs in the race were informed that Paris Saint-Germain have stepped up their pursuit and have already submitted a first bid for Godts. After missing out on Diomande themselves, the French champions have turned their attention to the Ajax winger, with football advisor Luis Campos understood to be a particularly strong admirer.

PSG have held what are described as “positive discussions” over a move, and the belief in Paris is that Godts can be moulded into a long-term piece of Luis Enrique’s attacking puzzle at the Parc des Princes.

The player, for his part, is said to be open to a move to Ligue 1. He knows, though, exactly what that would mean: fierce competition for a starting place in a squad stacked with attacking talent. It is the classic crossroads for a young forward – minutes and responsibility elsewhere, or the glamour and pressure of a superclub.

Ajax value Godts at around £51 million. For a winger yet to play in one of Europe’s traditional top five leagues, it is a substantial fee. For clubs who have just watched Diomande’s price soar beyond £80 million, it looks like a relative bargain for a player delivering elite numbers in Amsterdam.

Liverpool’s decision point

All of which leaves Liverpool in a familiar position: act decisively, or watch a coveted talent disappear to a rival.

They have already shown this summer that they are prepared to move quickly and aggressively when the right player becomes available, as Newcastle discovered with the Munoz deal. With Diomande seemingly Madrid-bound and PSG now advancing on Godts, the margin for hesitation is shrinking.

Ajax technical director Jordi Cruyff has already set the tone. Over the weekend he made it clear that “Godts will leave” – but only on Ajax’s terms, at the right time and for the right price.

The right time may be fast approaching. The only question now is whether Liverpool want this race badly enough to sprint.