Calvin Bassey's post Rangers Premier League path mapped out as Ajax chief addresses Brighton snub

Ajax technical director has made his thoughts on new recruit Calvin Bassey clear as he believes the star can reach the "top of the Premier League".

Bassey penned a five-year-deal with the Amsterdam club, leaving Rangers for a record breaking fee of an additional £19.5million - which could raise to just under £23million - this week. But the defender was not short of options before deciding to make the move to the Dutch side ahead of the upcoming campaign.

The 22-year-old was also linked with a move to the Premier League to join Brighton, with Steven Gerrard 's Aston Villa side also keen earlier this summer. Despite the sides south of the border keeping tabs on the Nigeria international, he has pledged his future to Ajax where he will remain until June 2027. However, with plenty years left in his career, the stopper may not be in Amsterdam for the duration of his contract and could end up in the Prem as his new sporting director predicts.

Speaking to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad technical director Gerry Hamstra said “He (Bassey) also received an offer from Brighton. He just says: I want to go to Ajax. The same story: two or three years and then go to the top of the Premier League.

“We are in that dilemma as well. We especially want to perform on the one hand, but we also know on the other hand: boys eventually want to make the next step.”

Bassey joined Rangers from Leicester City in 2020 for a fee of £230,000. He enjoyed 65 outings, shining under both Steven Gerrard and Gio van Bronckhorst as he played a key part in the Scottish Premiership title success, and this season's Europa League run and Scottish Cup Final victory.

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