A team that has always been the subject of attention of football purists, Ajax for decades have boasted one of the finest conveyor belts of talent in the world.
It literally is like a production line. One hotshot leaves, no problem – promote a youngster from the youth team and so on. We have seen it time and again and this season is likely to be no different.
Or, will it? A signing that seemed to go under the radar across the major media outlets and which appeared to elude most major European clubs, the arrival of 21-year-old Israeli versatile midfielder, Oscar Gloukh could turn out to be a revelation.
Gloukh Could Be Sneijder And Van Der Vaart Rolled Into One
Paying a modest £15 million fee for his signature, the club could definitely get a superb return on investment – especially considering what the player is capable of.
Capable of playing all across the midfield (apart from in the number 6 role) and even as a false 9 – if needed, Gloukh’s potential is obvious to anyone who has been paying attention.
You only need to factor in that he came from RB Salzburg – ironically a club that has also acquired a reputation for developing youth talent that have gone onto play for some of Europe’s biggest clubs – most notably Erling Haaland.
Gloukh already has shades of past Ajax stars, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder, both of whom developed into two of the best attacking midfielders in Europe in their day; winning major honours.
Equipped with a natural ability on the ball, Gloukh can dribble, thread a goal-creating chance and pick a pass, while he also has an eye for goal.
Like the aforementioned duo, Gloukh is also a threat from set-pieces and could quickly establish a reputation for this in the Netherlands.
A Big Move May Materialise Quickly
Should Gloukh have the same impact as both Van der Vaart and Sneijder, we could see the Israeli become the subject of much attention from big clubs in and around Europe, though over the last few years it has been common for players in the Eredivisie to move to the Premier League.
Gloukh could also command a huge transfer fee if he reaches his potential over the next couple of years and he has the ideal platform to showcase what he is capable of.
How quickly he settles into life at Ajax will be the key issue, though, there is no doubt that he has everything he needs to become a top player.