Ajax Make Official Offer For Utrecht's Dries Mertens In Bid To Replace Luis Suarez

Utrecht's Dries Mertens is the man Ajax have lined up as a proxy for Liverpool-bound Luis Suarez.
FC Utrecht have confirmed that Ajax have made a bid for diminutive winger Dries Mertens as the Godenzonen search for a replacement for Luis Suarez, who is on the verge of completing his €26.5 million move to Liverpool.

Utrecht technical director Foeke Booy admitted to Eredivisie Live that Ajax tabled a bid for the 23-year-old on Friday, the same day the Amsterdam giants gave permission for the English club to speak to Suarez. However, Booy was quick to add that the offer was rejected and the Utreg will work to keep Mertens at the club.

"We are not eager to let Mertens go," said Booy. "The transfer market closes on Monday, but we have a deadline for Ajax. Mertens is an important player for us. We don't want to just let him go. We must speak with Dries himself, but other than that I don't have too much to say about it."

Mertens has spent 18 months in Utrecht, scoring six goals in 34 games since signing from AGOVV. The former Anderlecht youth made his breakthrough into senior football in loan spells with Eendracht Aalst and AGOVV whilst on the books of Gent.