How Ajax could have lined up if they hadn’t sold their best players

Full Backs

Vertonghen is among the best defenders in the World.

Jan Vertonghen - The 31-year-old is a centre-back by trade but is also capable of playing at the left back and seemed to be the right choice at the left side of the defence.

The Belgium international joined Ajax's youth team in 2005 and made his first-team debut for the club as a 19-year-old during the 2006-2007 season. He played 155 Eredivisie games for Ajax, scoring 23 goals. Vertonghen won Ajax Talent of the Year 2007-2008, Ajax Player of the Year 2011-2012 along with winning Dutch Player of the Year award in 2012.

His performances in the Dutch league caught the attention of the big clubs across Europe and he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in 2012. He established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe with the Spurs and was included in the Premier League Team of the Year in the 2012-2013 and 2017-2018 seasons.

Toby Alderweireld- The Belgium international is a versatile player who is capable of playing anywhere across the backline. Moreover, given the lack of quality options at the right back position, Alderweireld fills the spot.

Alderweireld graduated through Ajax's youth system and went on to make 128 league appearances for the club in six years. He won the Ajax Talent of the Season award 2010 and helped the club win three Eredivisie titles, one KNVB Cup and one Johan Cruyff Shield.

He joined Athletico Madrid in 2013 but failed to make a grade at the club and was loaned to Southampton for the 2014-2015 season. His performances during his loan spell at St. Mary's Stadium impressed the Tottenham Hotspurs boardroom and they decided to sign him from Athletico in the summer transfer window of 2015.

He made 89 league appearances for the Spurs to date and won the Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Season 2015-16.