VI's Tim van Duijn reported on Monday that FC Porto presented several proposals to secure the signing of the 23-year-old defender, but none convinced the Amsterdam club's management, led by Jordi Cruyff. With no agreement reached, Porto pulled the plug early Monday morning.
FC Porto's interest in Youri Baas was genuine and even led the player to start on the bench during Ajax's rout away to Telstar (0-4) on Sunday.
After the match, manager Míchel Sanchez confirmed that transfer negotiations drove the decision, admitting a departure is possible, though he said he'd prefer to keep the defender. "I don't know what will happen. He might leave Ajax, but if it were up to me, he'd stay. Youri has the Ajax DNA", he said.
Baas came on in the second half against Telstar and, although he usually plays centre-back, he acted as a holding midfielder, a role he also played against FC Sion in UEFA Conference League qualifying.
The player was open to a move to the Dragão, where he could reunite with Francesco Farioli. Under the current FC Porto coach, Baas broke through in Ajax's first team, establishing himself mainly as a centre-back. Last season, Baas was named Ajax's Player of the Year.
Baas to stay in Amsterdam
At this point, however, the most likely scenario is that he stays in Amsterdam, Van Duijn reported.
In addition to FC Porto withdrawing from negotiations, Eintracht Frankfurt's interest has cooled, and sources close to the player consider the chances of a move in this final stretch of the transfer window very slim.
Baas is under contract with Ajax until 2028.
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