Ajax: Dutch giants look for a fresh start with stars set to depart

Ajax go into the 2023-24 season feeling a bit sour, albeit with the hope of correcting the wrongs of the last campaign.

The Amsterdam giants' first season without Erik ten Hag in charge since 2017 ended in disastrous fashion as they finished third in the league, behind Feyenoord and PSV, missing out on Champions League football and also losing the cup final.

It'll be the first time since 2017 that Ajax aren't in Europe's premier club competition and it is something of a worry, given the side's financial conditions are dependent on Champions League participation and player sales.

In the past year, Ajax have sold many of their top stars including Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Sebastien Haller, had a failed experiment with Alfred Schreuder as head coach and even appointed ex-Everton defender John Heitinga as an interim to steer the ship.

While initial results under Heitinga were positive, it wasn't enough to warrant giving him a full-time role and he was let go at the end of the season.

Additionally, Edwin van der Sar, the former goalkeeper who had been CEO of the club since 2015, departed his role after a series of poor decisions over the past 18 months.

The exits aren't likely to stop there, however.

This summer will see a host of top European clubs make moves for many Ajax talents, with the offer of Champions League football and greater financial incentives often proving too hard to turn down, even for the most committed Ajax players.

The most high-profile sale is likely to be that of defender Jurrien Timber, who is on the verge of a move to Arsenal.

Timber's steady progression has been noted across Europe and he even became a regular in the Dutch senior national set-up under Louis van Gaal and Ronald