This is the updated version of a previous analysis I did on Ajax.

- Culture -

It's important for Ajax to stay true to their football culture and Cruyff(iaanse) heritage. Ideally Ajax plays 4-3-3 where they either play a defensive line or an offensive line. They value creativity and entertaining attacking play often in the small spaces.

- Struggles in 24 season -

Ajax has struggled with balance in the midfield and defence. The attacking play hasn't been awful. There has been a short-term balance in defence with a 5-man lineup though this has received criticism for being against the Ajax DNA. The midfield has switched very often, looking for possible combinations during the season. The main target will be creating a balanced midfield that can support build-up play and connect to the offence more smoothly.

- Outgoing Transfers (rumored) -

Mislintat won't be happy to visit Amsterdam any time soon. He's blamed for many of the bad results and costly transfers. And thus Ajax is looking to sell many of the recent transfers. Sosa, Hlynsson, Akpom, Gaaei, Medic, Avila, Sutalo, Tahirovic, Mikautadze.
Conceicao has been bought by Porto through the buy clause.

On top of that I'll make a judgement based on rumours and financial choices for Ajax to sell the following players:

- Bergwijn
- Berghuis (Turkey move?)
- Rulli
- Taylor (Italy move?)
- Brobbey (Poor financial situation)

- Incoming Transfers (rumored) -

Miranda (heavily challenged by AC milan)
Espi
Tete (besiktas agreed?)
Swedberg
Paula
Yalcouye
Suzuki
Sandler
Bertrand Traore


Personal favorites that have been brought forward by analists:
Klaassen (free)
Tagliafico
Veltman
Gudelj
Eriksen
Donny vd Beek
David Neres


- Finances -

The financial situation isn't what it used to be. I believe Ajax will have to remain on a budget and select their replacements intelligently this time, only spending more on proven (Ajax DNA) players. Ajax needs stability and cannot gamble on more youngsters.

- Youth Development -

I hope Ajax will focus on their own talent production again as AZ has been taking over that market in the Netherlands recently. A lot has been mentioned about retaining the Ajax DNA, so buying older players that have been with Ajax in their succes years is very feasable so they can support the next generation of Ajax players.


- Formation/Lineup -

The biggest likelyhood for the next coach is Farioli. Farioli usually builds up with a defensive midfielder and 2 defenders close to the goalkeeper playing short. Farlioli tries to overload the sides to create gaps and ultimately create a running opportunity for either a back or winger. The back and winger are supposed to work in synergy. This has proven to be an issue for Ajax this season.

In goal: Rulli has been rumoured to leave for some time. And Ramaj has been an excellent keeper for Ajax recently. Gorter has gotten some chances over time but has failed to really leave a mark. I am not sure how long he will remain at ease with the substitute role. He might make a move like Hansen and Baas have made in the recent year to a lower tier Eredivisie team. De Lange has been rumoured for a substitute role at Ajax.

At leftback there is a desperate need for a new player capable of the defensive work. Sosa might be sold after a half-decent season. He probably doesn't have great support from the supporters because he's been bought by Mislintat though I personally believe him to be not as bad as people make him to be.
Miranda would be a suitable new left back to fill that gap as he would be a free agent in the coming season. If Ajax were however to opt for more club DNA they might want to take a look at Tagliafico and bring the succes back to Amsterdam. Lyon has been struggeling and Tagliafico might be interested to play European football in any way possible. Farioli would have seen Tagliafico play and have different use cases for him. This makes the likelyhood a bit bigger that he might bring him along.l

In the centre of defence I would go with Hato, still a great player with just an annoying season for him. There is a case to make for Kaplan to be the other centre back though I am personally a big fan of Sandler from NEC. He is playing a really nice season at NEC so far, not too costly but very great potential.

At rightback Devyne Rensch would be suitable. Defintely able to put in the defensive work and can flex into a centreback position. I'm not sure if he meets the requirements Farioli expects of him as I haven't seen him fulfill that type of role yet. Though I am confident the youngster can adjust.

Going to the midfield no new faces. Going with Mannsverk, who's had a decent season considering the form of other players around him, a very solid defensive oriented sweeper for more stability in the back. There would be an option for more Ajax DNA in Gudelj who has previously played in midfield for Ajax. However this was left side oriented and I am not confident enough in my opinion around Gudelj to judge his centrally defensive capabilities.

Then the next two are tough choices to make. Centrally I would give Branco vd Boomen a chance. Taylor is rumoured to leave and Henderson is also rumoured to leave after half a season at Ajax. Personally I could see Branco vd Boomen and Yalcouye work wonders in the team-up. Branco originally played left side mid and played great progressive passes. Yalcouye is a more forward oriented player that likes to play a bit more wide. This however does leave a lot of pressure on Rensch and Manssverk.

Eriksen: Has been rumoured but nothing concrete. I personally believe Eriksen not to be needed perse. If the financial circumstances are viable Eriksen might be a great addition to embrace the ajax playstyle culture as he has been at the forefront of much great football at Ajax throughout the years. But in case Eriksen is recruited I would revamp the entire midfield as the structure won't be balanced well. The same applies to Klaassen and / Van de Beek.

At the wings we go for Mika Godts, a great young player, lovely potential, has been playing good matches. At the right side I could have seen a return from loan for Conceição, but Porto opted to pay the clause on his loan spell.

For the right wing I could see Farlioli going with Bertrand Traore or Suzuki; dependant on the financial situation. Suzuki and Bertrand play in different roles and systems at their current clubs. Suzuki plays more offensivly oriented where Traore is playing a bit more defensive on occasions. In Farioli's style of play I could see him have a preference for Suzuki. Hoewever I expect there to be quite a pricetag on the player as he has been having a fenominal season.

And last but not least, Brobbey. It's been rumoured he might leave due to the poor financial situation at Ajax. I however don't see a need or must for his transfer. Brobbey has been the only real hope this season for Ajax. There is no great alternative in the running yet. Rijkhof is great but hasn't seen many chances in the first team by vd Schip. I believe Brobbey will stay for another season, though take this with a grain of salt as there are no guarentees.I predict it's going to be silly season transfer madness for Ajax this time.

There are more suggested transfers from the Belgian league such as Debast and Vandervoordt though these are expensive (with other interested competition) and in my opinion more risky. I believe Ajax not to be in the financial situation it used to be at. So I would start to invest in more proven talent or AJAX DNA personally.