First off, I am absolutely convinced that no players will leave during the winter break. And if one of them goes during the winter it will be Trabelsi. But I think everyone will stay until the summer - at least.

Since a few years everyone is writing and talking about this mid-season transfer window. I don't exactly know when it was 'invented', but there was no such thing in the past. It was basically impossible to leave your club in the middle of the season. Now it is possible, but it's still regarded as morally reprehensible to let your team down in the middle of a season. That counts.

A few specific cases:

Trabelsi: we will lose him, that's for sure. He 's the only one that might leave during the winter break, that's why his injury may be a good thing. But he'll surely leave at season's end, especially is he performs well in the African Nations Cup in January. This is his last season - no doubt about it.

VDV: I can guarantee you 100% that he will not leave during the winter, for the simple reason that there is a clause in his contract that he will stay until Summer 2004. Read this:
http://www.ajax-usa.com/news/02-03/0221.html
I think he will go at season's end. He's not a very loyal guy. He is a 'career planner'. But... rumor has it that his manager (Sjaak Swart), his dad and his girlfriend (who has a TV career in Holland) are trying to talk him out of it. And he's not as good as he was last season, so he has some doubts himself. Who knows...

Maxwell: Koeman is usually very honest about this kind of stuff. He said that Trabelsi will probably leave, for example. In the same sentence he said that Maxwell is "not yet interested" in a move. Personally I think Maxwell will stay for one more season.

Zlatan: no-one can predict this guy, but he keeps saying that he wants to extend his contract, that his "learning process" is not over yet and that he wants to continue working with Koeman. I am not convinced that he'll stay.

Koeman: was quoted in a Spanish (!) newspaper today, saying that he is not yet interested in a job at Barcelona. He also said that he does not want to leave Ajax yet. Reportedly he's already talking about a contract extension. Koeman staying, by the way, is a very important factor for several players. Most of these kids are very fond of him.

Pienaar: will not leave. Absolutely not. In fact: if Van der Vaart goes, he will get the chance to become the 'real' #10.

Escudé, Grygera, Sonck etc.: they just arrived and they surely did not sign with the intention to stay for only one season. Obviously.

Also: I don't think this European elimination will be a reason for players to leave. A much more important factor will be qualification for next season's Champions League. If we qualify again, it will actually be very interesting to stay for many.

My prediction, all in all: no-one leaving during the winter, Trabelsi and VDV to leave at season's end. Koeman, Zlatan, Maxwell and Pienaar will stay for another season (at least).

I must say that I agree with your assessment of who is staying and who is leaving. With one exception. You are right about maybe only Trabelsi leaving over the Winter Break and that his injury is a good thing for us, no one wants to but dammaged goods if they can help it. However, Ajax getting bounced so quickly from Champions League may change that, only it would be more Ajax's decisions for financial reasons that would lead to players leaving before summer.

The exception is VDV and the rumor is he's going to Man U. From what I hear is going to happen at Man U next year, he would be a fool not to join them if they want him. Rumor is that Kezman is basically packing his bags for Manchester right now, leaving at the Winter Break. Can you imagine Ruud with Kezman up front with Giggs, VDV, Ronaldo and Scholes all playing together? Eat your heart out Real Madrid! You would have the Numbers 2 and 3 scorers in Europe on the same team. Deadly. I think that Man U also have a chance of nabbing Zlatan as I think they are going to dump all of their strikers for next year accept Ruud. Ole Gunner is no good to them injured and Forlan has not lived up to his potential yet. He may have to sit on the bench a lot but he would be a great asset to them and I have heard they are interested in him. However, they will stay on until the summer if they leave.

Milan may try to steal Snijder as well but I think he will stay, ditto for Maxwell. However, Ajax are going to have to prove how serious they are and spend some money this summer in order for these players to agree to stay on. Koeman will stay as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cdnajaxfan
However, Ajax are going to have to prove how serious they are and spend some money this summer in order for these players to agree to stay on. Koeman will stay as well.

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Herald Tribune: Tainted victory mars Celta's glow - scolds UEFA for allowing Milan to field a reserves team in such a crucial game...

Interesting that people are linking vd Vaart with a move to ManUre. Personally I dont think he will fit in there in the hurly-burly of English football.
Just look at the games where he goes missing, and you will invariably find that it is where the opposing teams close down incredibly quickly and the ball is pinging around like a ball on a pinball machine.
Even Tabelsi, I have my doubts about as I feel that his defending is still very weak. Having said that, I believe that his attacking skills are absolutely fantastic and have been sorely missed.
The one player that would really do well in England is Pienaar, but I would really hate to see him leave.
The financial implications of CL elimination will need to be addressed to balance the books, and before we buy we must start pruning out the old wood that are just not going to make it i.e. the likes of Sikora (yes I know I have always supported him) and Soetars.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vak425
The financial implications of CL elimination will need to be addressed to balance the books, and before we buy we must start pruning out the old wood that are just not going to make it i.e. the likes of Sikora (yes I know I have always supported him) and Soetars.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vak425
The financial implications of CL elimination will need to be addressed to balance the books, and before we buy we must start pruning out the old wood that are just not going to make it i.e. the likes of Sikora (yes I know I have always supported him) and Soetars.

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Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my tremendously sad duty to close this thread down. Club Brugge vs Ajax was the last Champions League game for this season. Unfortunately I can not direct you to a newly started UEFA Cup Games thread, either.

For discussions about the players you think will leave Ajax because of the European elimination, please visit the Players Leaving Ajax thread.

For discussions about possible financial disasters because of the European elimination, please visit the newly started Ajax Finances.

But, most importantly: it's not all about European games. Continue to share your thoughts with us about Ajax's Eredivisie Games, Amstel Cup Games and Friendly Games.