- 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
- Rulli

- Incoming Transfers (rumored) -

Miranda (heavily challenged by AC milan)
Espi
Tete (besiktas agreed?)
Swedberg

Personal favorites that have been brought forward by analists:
Klaassen (free)
Tagliafico
Veltman
Gudelj
Eriksen
Donny vd Beek
Bertrand Traore//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 lineup is highly dependant on the new coach and the type of football and culture they stimulate.
Erik ten Hag is probably at his last season at United and Potter is also being mentioned as one of the potential names for the job too. Potter is known for more attacking football, so a 4-3-3 with attacking line could have potential. There are some other names such as Pepijn Leijnders (former NEC coach and Klopp Assistant) and recently also Louis van Gaal who is known to be a figure of authority and has known great succes with the Netherlands, Bayern Munchen, AZ, Ajax and to some degree Manchester United and Barcelona.

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.

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.

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.

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(three) are personal preferences. Having either Kenneth Taylor or Branco van den Boomen and Henderson team up centrally. There is a personal preference for Kenneth Taylor here as he is a young home grown talent (which is important marketing for Ajax). Branco van den Boomen shines when able to go in wider positions and create opportunities; likewhise for Kenneth Taylor. Henderson is a box-to-box player and moves forward, cuts the passing lanes well and definitely bring much needed leadership to the squad (c). In some way I see Taylor shifting to Rightside mid, Branco on leftside mid and Henderson centrally as he gets older and is still a viable sweeper in the back. But that's just an interesting thought to reserve for now.

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.

Dependant on the coach I could see Ten Hag bring Antony or Neres back or have Potter invest in youth such as Forbs who has shown great mental strenght at Young Ajax and the wants and needs to get back into the first squad. There has been a rumour that Ajax has looked at Bertrand Traore who has previously played for Ajax already.

And last but not least, Brobbey. It's been rumoured he won't leave for another season as he has been a fundament, a beast for Ajax this season. Without him Ajax might have been in the relegation spot still.

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.