Girona's Michel favoured for Ajax job, Arne Slot 'rejects' approach

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ajax/8UOvIwnb/"]Ajax[/a] are currently on their third manager of the season after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/heitinga-johnny/xKrTnuIc/"]John Heitinga[/a] was fired in November and interim manager Fred Grim stepped down in March.[/p][p]According to several sources, technical director Jordi Cruyff, who stepped in in February, has set his sights on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/girona/nNNpcUSL/"]Girona[/a] manager [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/michel/02EXFpEP/"]Míchel[/a] to become the new Ajax manager. The 50-year-old Spaniard led Girona to their first-ever UEFA Champions League berth in 2024, but is out of contract in the summer.[/p][embed guid="7e57c1b4-610e-4b5d-83cf-a41499b8c42c" url="https://x.com/MatteMoretto/status/2039796132860100950?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Catalan club are battling relegation for the first time under Míchel's tutelage, with Girona four points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Monday's meeting between Sevilla and Real Sociedad. [i]Marca[/i] journalist Matteo Moretto reported earlier that Míchel and Ajax were in negotiations, but Míchel has said that he'll only start thinking about his future once Girona is safe from relegation.[/p][h2]Arne Slot says 'no'[/h2][p][i]De Telegraaf[/i]'s Mike Verweij reported on Monday that Jordi Cruyff approached Liverpool manager Arne Slot as well. The Dutchman rejected the approach, allegedly stating that a return to the Eredivisie doesn't fit his current career path.[/p][p]Slot has been under pressure after a disappointing season, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-premier-league-under-fire-arne-slot-reportedly-set-to-stay-at-liverpool-amid-calls-for-change/lYOSNwzg/"]looks set to remain with the club[/a] with UEFA Champions League qualification almost guaranteed, according to Sky Sports.[/p][p]Ajax are in the middle of one of their worst seasons of the century. With 55 points from 32 games and after missing out on the last UEFA Champions League ticket, Ajax need two more to improve on their worst finish of the 21st century.[/p][image alt="Ajax are fourth in the Eredivisie with two rounds to go" id="2b0c8ae5-015a-424c-98ca-0100ebe9c9db" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e365b8c0-5f1f-45fa-9c83-195b243a7316" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /]