Ajax and Monaco reportedly leading race to sign Edson Álvarez from West Ham

Ajax Amsterdam are within touching distance of securing the league championship in the Netherlands, putting behind them a horror two-season spell where they briefly flirted with relegation and suffered embarrassing setbacks.

A nine-point lead over second-placed PSV Eindhoven, with five rounds left of the Eredivisie season, sees Ajax on the brink of a return to glory with a record-extending 37th title.

Ajax need seven points out of a possible 15 from their last five fixtures to return to the summit of Dutch football.

They could clinch the title as early as April 27 when they host Sparta Rotterdam but would need to win away at fourth-placed Utrecht on Sunday and see other results go their way, if they are to set up a home celebration.

A bold gamble on 34-year-old Italian coach Francesco Farioli at the start of the season looks to have paid off as he returned lustre to the ailing giant, prioritising rotation with 39 players used this campaign, improving fitness and tightening the defence.

While he has been criticised for dispensing with the fabled ‘Total Football’ approach, Ajax have won 13 of their last 14 league games to long overtake defending champions PSV in the title race.

We have five finals left to play,” Farioli said after last weekend’s away victory at Willem II.

“It was a very important victory. With it, we’ve at least secured a top-three finish. That means we’ve qualified for the preliminary round of the Champions League, which is crucial for the club.”

Ajax last won the title in 2022, after which their coach Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United and many key players were sold, precipitating a period of unprecedented turmoil for the former European champions.