PSV Eindhoven manager Peter Bosz has praised AFC Ajax's summer recruitment drive. In an interview, the champion's coach said he is impressed with the reinforcements brought in by the Amsterdam club.
"You can see that Ajax has strengthened enormously," Bosz said. "They have opted for experience. A number of those players are doing very well." The coach specifically highlighted the arrivals of free agent Julian Brandt from Borussia Dortmund and big striker Tolu Arokodare, signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ajax added eleven new first-team players during the summer window and secured Yves Bissouma on a free transfer in September. These moves are a direct response to a disappointing previous campaign where the club finished 28 points behind PSV and changed managers after Francesco Farioli's departure.
The new signings have already proven their worth. Julian Brandt is the team's current top scorer with four goals in seven appearances. The squad currently sits fifth in the Eredivisie with 14 points from seven matches, five points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar. Their attack has been prolific, averaging three goals per league game.
Bosz, whose PSV side lost 3-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA this season, sees Ajax returning as title contenders. He did stress the league's unpredictability. "One thing we have all seen is that it is simply not stable," the PSV manager responded.
For Ajax, the busy schedule after the international break starts on 10 October with a home game against NEC Nijmegen. They then face a run of six matches in three weeks, including a UEFA Conference League trip to Hajduk Split and a key home fixture against AZ. The full schedule is demanding, but the strengthened squad is built to handle it.
Technical director Jordi Cruijff received indirect praise from Bosz for his summer work. Whether Ajax will look to add a right-back in the winter window, as previously suggested, is not yet clear. For now, the team has the quality to close the gap at the top.
The report in full is at roundtable.io
