Ajax confirmed on Sunday that it had reached a verbal agreement with Jordi Cruyff, son of Ajax legend Johan Cruyff, about assuming the role of technical director. The former Barcelona director will not start his job until February, however, giving current technical director Alex Kroes the reins over the upcoming transfer window.
According to several Dutch sources, Ajax have made a shortlist for the upcoming window that, so far, consists of left-backs, one of the positions with little depth in the squad.
Chelsea's Jorrel Hato is reportedly on the list, as well as former Feyenoord and current Burnley defender Quilindschy Hartman. According to De Telegraaf, talks between Ajax and Burnley about a possible loan deal are already underway, with the player willing to move to Amsterdam.
A move to Ajax would come as a shock after Hartman came through the Feyenoord academy and had played 83 games for the senior squad before leaving for Burnley last summer. Ajax and Feyenoord are bitter rivals, with only very few players having played for both clubs.
Hato, meanwhile, left Ajax for Chelsea last summer, but has only played 617 minutes for the Blues across all competitions. According to De Telegraaf, Hato is Ajax's top target for the left-back spot.
Extensive list
Other left-backs on the shortlist are FC Utrecht's Souffian El Karouani, Everton's Adam Aznou, and Como's Ignace Van der Brempt.
El Karouani's deal in Utrecht runs out in June, and the Moroccan left-back is set to leave the club in January. The 25-year-old has been impressive for FC Utrecht and nearly moved to Spartak Moscow during the summer, but a move fell through. El Karouani leads the Eredivisie with nine assists.
Aznou, meanwhile, hasn't appeared in a single Premier League game for the Toffees after joining from Bayern Munich during the summer.
The 23-year-old Van der Brempt joined Como from Red Bull Salzburg and is a natural right-back, which would allow former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to move to the left-back spot.
New full-backs and a controlling midfielder will be the priority signings for Ajax after a disappointing first half of the season. Left-back Owen Wijndal hasn't impressed, nor has Danish right-back Anton Gaaei, who's reportedly allowed to leave the club in January.
Liverpool loanee James McConnell, meanwhile, is set to have his loan deal terminated after barely having played during his loan spell.
Ajax are 16 points behind league leaders PSV at the midway point of the season and have won just three points from their first six UEFA Champions League matches.
