Preview Wintertransfers

Preview Wintertransfers

12/09/2015

At the time, Ajax has a luxury problem, there are for most positions more or less equivalent alternatives available, so the question is not if any players are purchased during the winter transfer window, but which players are possibly sold.

This luxury problem did not just happen, in the last season alone a total of 31.7 million was invested in new players, this is a record since we keep track of this (season 2002-03), and therefore more than, for example in the season that Sulejmani was purchased. Frank de Boer has been hailed as a coach who makes use of a lot of own youth, but the figures show that Ajax also spends a lot under Frank de Boer on player transfers.

At the end of the season for 2014-15, there were 42.3 million worth of players on the balance sheet, only 2 million less than the peak year of 2008-09. If there are no players sold or purchased in the remainder of season 2015-16 Ajax will have had a total of 80 different contract players, of which 57 adults. Both also records. Even if we consider that a number of players have come or left during the season, we end up with a record of man contract year: 75.1.

The positive figures in recent years were mainly achieved by the combination of the Champions League and transfer income. Now the champions league revenue will be lacking this season and Ajax top players are contracted for a long time and Ajax would like to retain them as well, this will very likely result in a substantial deficit and it is important to reduce salary costs by reducing the number of players.

Besides keepers Norbert Alblas and Indy Groothuizen for Jong Ajax Ajax has access to Jasper Cillessen, Diederik Boer and Andre Onana for Ajax 1 and Peter Leeuwenburgh and Xavier Mous are on loan. Both on loan keepers hardly get any time in the first squad, which might make it logical to sell them.

In defense besides Kenny Tete, Joëel Veltman, Jairo Riedewald and Mitchell Dijks Ajax also has Nicolai Boilesen, John Heitinga, Nick Viergever, Mike van der Hoorn and Ricardo van Rhijn under contract. Nicolai Boilesen is already at a dead end since he did accept the contract extension offered by Ajax, but the other four players are rotated by Frank de Boer between the bank and stand, and only when an injury or suspension of a first choice player occurs will any of them get time in Ajax 1. At this moment there is dissatisfaction amongst all four players and although it will never be completely remove, likely a farewell to three of the five (Boilesen, Heitinga and Van der Hoorn) ensures that the other two will be happy to stay. In addition, Ruben Ligeon is also still under contract with Ajax, he is on loan this season.

Also the midfield is crowded. Besides Riechedly Bazoer, Nemanja Gudelj and Davy Klaassen, also Daley Sinkgraven and Thulani Serero would have likely hoped on more play time. In addition, Lerin Duarte is still under contract, Lasse Schöne is also of origin a midfielder, Donny Brook showed he could effortless join the squad and there are still the on loan players Lucas Andersen and Frenkie de Jong. Besides Lerin Duarte, it might be best to also say farewell to Daley Sinkgraven and / or Thulani Serero, though certainly the first is unlikely because he was only less than a year ago purchased for a lot of money.

The attack is the most crowded. Arek Milik, Viktor Fischer and Anwar El-Ghazi seem certain of their position in the starting lineup, though Amin Younes has done very well during El Ghazis injury. In addition, Ajax also has availability over Sam Hendriks, Vaclav Cerny and Yaya Sanogo, while Lasse Schöne and Daley Sinkgraven also can play on the wings. Sheraldo Becker, Queensy Menig, Lesley de Sa and Richairo Zivkovic are on loan this season. Selling one of the current attackers is probably not the most obvious choice. It would be good for the future to let Sanogo return to Arsenal and give Sam Hendriks a serious chance as a stand-in for Arek Milik. During the preparation for the next season Zivkovic and Hendriks could battle it out. It might be best to try to sell all on loan wingers.

The question is whether Ajax is willing to be so rigorous in saying their goodbye to players, and if it will, whether it will succeed. It would be a good thing, not only because of the financial aspect, but a smaller selection should reduce discontent among the substitutes, and there will also be more room to fit in players from the youth.

Filed under: Frank de Boer

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