Amsterdam outfit aim to build on last season’s double
Stars de Jong and de Ligt have departed but squad has been re-moulded
Eindhoven face battle to match rivals’ strength
Ajax are in a familiar situation as they attempt to retain the Netherlands’ Eredivisie title after losing two of their brightest young stars to bigger European clubs.
The club has long served as a talent production factory for more wealthy outfits. This summer they have lost highly-rated midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona and defender Matijs de Ligt to Juventus.
Netherlands Eredivisie Odds 2019-20
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ajax | -150 |
| PSV Eindhoven | +110 |
| Feyenoord | +2000 |
| AZ Alkmaar | +3300 |
| FC Utrecht | +5000 |
*Odds taken at 2019/07/26.
But they are still correctly favored to win the league title at -150 after impressing so much last season by winning a domestic double and reaching the semifinals of the Champions League.
Their close rivals PSV Eindhoven are narrowly behind at +110 but they are simply not strong enough to match Ajax’s revival.
Feyenoord Well Adrift
The bookies are right to view it as a two-horse race, with Holland’s third major club, Feyenoord, priced at way out at +2000 as third favorites.
Only once in the past nine seasons have Feyenoord managed to break the Ajax-PSV duopoly at the top. That was when they claimed the prize in 2016-17.
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However, last season, while Ajax won a close fight with PSV – winning the title with 86 points to Eindhoven’s 83 – Feyenoord of Rotterdam were way off the pace in third place with 65 points.
An early indicator ahead of the new season will come when Ajax and PSV meet in the Dutch Super Cup curtain-raiser to the new season in Amsterdam on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 12:00 pm EST.
Coach Erik ten Hag has compensated for the loss of the two young Dutch internationsals with a series of big signings,
The left winger Quincy Promes has been signed from Sevilla for $23 million. Centre-back Edson Alvarez has arrived from Mexico’s Club America for $21 million. Romanian midfielder Razvan Marin has been captured from Standard Liege or $18 million. They are among seven new arrivals.
Eindhoven’s major purchase is the Portugeuse left winger Brouma who has been recruited from RB Leipzig for $21.7 million.
Last season’s Dutch joint-top scorer Luuk de Jong has left for Sevilla and left back Angelino has joined Manchester City.
Feyenoord have made only free transfer signings. They have also lost veteran striker Robin van Persie who has retired after contributing 16 goals last season. Meanwhile, midfielder Tonny Vilhena has departed for Russia’s Krasnodar for £12 million.
Pick: Ajax -150