Eriksen will not sign new Ajax deal

The Christian Eriksen saga at Ajax has taken another twist after it was revealed that he does not want to sign a new deal at the club.



The 20-year-old is one of Europe's brightest prospects and a number of top clubs have shown an interest in the midfielder.

Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with the Denmark international who, just last week, refused to give anything away about his future and made it clear that he was focused on life in Amsterdam.

But now the club's technical director Marc Overmars has lifted the lid on the situation surrounding the player and confessed that the youngster is prepared to wait and see which clubs firm up their interest before deciding on his future.

"Christian has informed us that he doesn't want to sign a new contract right now," he said. "I think he and his agent want to see what opportunities present themselves this summer.

"We want him to stay here for at least two more years, but the day he leaves us, he will be ready to play for the very best. He's a player even the biggest clubs in the world could do with having in their squad."

Eriksen waiting for right move

Christian Eriksen says he would be open to a move to either England, Germany, Italy or Spain but has insisted he will only leave Ajax when the time is right.

Heavy interest from English side Tottenham Hotspur has developed in recent weeks but Real Madrid have also showed interest after some decent displays from the Danish midfielder during both of the Champions League games last month.



However, Eriksen who is flattered by the interest is only willing to leave Ajax when the time is right for both he and the club.



I think that my future lies in England, Germany, Italy or Spain. These are the competitions that I like. I will leave Ajax at one point, but I want to leave at the right moment and in the right way,” Eriksen told La Gazzetta dello Sport.



“I do not know what I will do in a few months’ time yet, but I want to leave my mark before moving on. The Europa League final in our own stadium would be a good opportunity for that.



“I have learned a lot here and I don’t want to leave with empty hands. I want to win something and then move on.”



Eriksen, 20, has a current deal with Ajax that runs until June 2014.


-->

Babel ready to re-kick off his form versus City

It is just five years since former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez paid Ajax £12million for the promising Dutch forward Ryan Babel.



On Wednesday at the Amsterdam Arena, Babel faces Manchester City in the Champions League hoping to restart a career that has taken him back to his formative club.

The fact that Babel, still only 25, is back at Ajax is appropriate.





Offered just a one-year contract in the summer after an unhappy spell at German club Hoffenheim, Babel, originally a product of the famed Ajax youth academy, is having to prove himself once more as he looks to earn an extended career here in north Holland.

‘I have made mistakes,’ admitted Babel. ‘But, at 25, it’s not too late to give my career a good twist.

‘I still think I can fulfil my potential and live up to what people thought I would become.

‘I am mentally stronger and I know how to deal with certain situations and different people. The people at Ajax see that.’

Babel was just 19 when Benitez took him to Anfield after seeing him excel in the European Under 21 Championship in the summer of 2007.



In that tournament, Babel played as a central striker. At Liverpool he was asked to learn a wider role and he struggled. Discipline was a problem too and as his place at Anfield became gradually more uncertain, so did his future in England.

By the time he was sold to Hoffenheim in the summer of 2011, Babel’s stock had plummeted. A season in Germany brought him regular football but he was unhappy enough to buy himself out of his contract.

Eventually, after other targets such as the Moroccan Oussama Assaidi and Luciano Narsingh proved too expensive, Ajax coach Frank de Boer took what most observers in Dutch football considered a gamble in bringing one of the national sport’s lost souls back home.

The Ajax team that will face City here tonight is expected to feature just three of the outfield players who faced Manchester United in the Europa League knock-out stages last February.

Short of money, Ajax are once again relying on their De Toekomst academy for talent and, if you forget the five-year hiatus, Babel is seen as part of that.



Having played seven times this season for a team that is unbeaten domestically but sits bottom of its Champions League group, Babel knows he still has questions to answer. Many, for example, think him big-headed and arrogant.

His Dutch career is no longer a priority. Coach Louis van Gaal is not a fan and Babel, despite his 42 caps, has played once in two years.

What is more important tonight is proving a point to those who still doubt him.

‘I don’t think people in England ever saw the best of me,’ he said. ‘For a player to really be at his best you have to give him a certain confidence, but I did not feel appreciated by some people at Liverpool.



‘Ajax have given me a chance again to prove myself and I’m happy for that.

‘The City game is a good platform for me to show the people who doubt Ryan Babel what I can do.’

Vertonghen seals Tottenham move

Jan Vertonghen has successfully passed his medical and completed his move from Ajax to Tottenham.



The Belgian defender has been the subject of a protracted transfer saga, as he had been targeted by Spurs during the tenure of Harry Redknapp.



A wrangle over a transfer percentage between Vertonghen and Ajax threatened to derail the deal, while further doubt was cast when Redknapp was axed and replaced by Andre Villas-Boas.



Villas-Boas did not block the transfer and at the weekend it was announced the deal had been agreed. This allowed Vertonghen to travel to London for a medical, which he completed without alarm.



Vertonghen put his name to a Tottenham contract and he joins Gylfi Sugurdsson in making the move to White Hart Lane.

Fiorentina sign El Hamdaoui from Ajax

Fiorentina have signed Morocco striker Mounir El Hamdaoui from Ajax.



The 27-year-old has joined the Tuscan outfit on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.



El Hamdaoui had been strongly linked with a move to Fiorentina earlier this year, after being frozen out of Ajax's first team following a dispute with coach Frank de Boer.



A statement from La Viola read: "Fiorentina announces it has acquired the sporting rights of Mounir El Hamdaoui from Ajax."



El Hamdaoui, who was a reported target of Blackburn Rovers and Fulham among other European clubs, had two years left on his contract at Ajax.

Spurs sign Ajax star

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen for a fee possibly rising to 12 million euros.



Both clubs had long been in talks over the possibility of the Belgium defender moving to White Hart Lane, and the deal is now set to be completed.



Vertonghen will ink a long-term contract with Spurs upon completion of his medical.



"I'm very happy that the saga's finally over. I don't have to worry about anything anymore, and can focus on other things again," the 25-year-old told the Ajax website.



"It's great that I can start at Spurs during pre-season. That was very important for me. I'm looking forward to a great time. I've heard a lot of beautiful stories about Tottenham."



Vertonghen came through the ranks of the Ajax youth academy, and has made 220 official appearances for the Eredivisie champions, scoring 28 goals in the process.



Meanwhile, Spurs striker Giovani dos Santos insists he is remaining calm over his future as his agent seeks to secure him a move away from the club.



The Mexican moved to north London from Barcelona in 2008 but failed to break through under Harry Redknapp and has been loaned out three times.



However, the 23-year-old claims he is not yet 'desperate' to leave and has reiterated that he will continue to act professionally should he have to stay.



"The window closes at the end of August and I am calm, I'm not getting desperate," Dos Santos told Record.



"I'm still a Tottenham player and if there is no other option, I'll stay and do my best like I have always done.



"I can't complain. I have learnt a lot at Tottenham, the team have great quality, and it won't be a bad thing if I have to stay.



"Nothing concrete has come as yet, we expect that will happen within the next few days."



Dos Santos also maintained that his current focus is on Mexico's campaign at the London 2012 Olympic Games and not his future.



"I'm very relaxed here with the national team (at a pre-Olympic training camp), my head is here and my agent is dealing with everything," he said.



"I am trying to keep myself away from it all and focus here, to be 100 per cent and not get worried about the clubs.



"There are obviously options, but I'm relaxed. I talk to my agent every day and he has told me to stay calm and that there will be news soon."

Vertonghen deal nearly done

Ajax manager Frank de Boer has left Tottenham Hotspur target Jan Vertonghen out of his squad for a pre-season fixture because "his head is in London".



Vertonghen has been linked with a transfer to White Hart Lane all summer, and it seems the deal is now on the verge of completion.



The switch has been held up of late, with the Belgium international in dispute with Ajax over receiving a cut of the transfer fee.



Vertonghen's agent said recently he was aiming to enter talks with Ajax in a bid to end the impasse - and it seems he has pushed the saga towards a resolution, with De Boer omitting Vertonghen from the exhibition contest against FC Emmen.



"Jan has his head in London, so we sent him home," De Boer told Telesport. "He is only waiting on a few minor details before he gets the green light."



Spurs are expected to pay £9 million to bring the centre-back to White Hart Lane, where he will link up with new boss Andre Villas-Boas.



Vertonghen would join Gylfi Sigurdsson in boosting the ranks of new Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Vertonghen keen to finalise move

Defender Jan Vertonghen admits he is growing frustrated at the fact his transfer from Ajax to Spurs is yet to be completed.



Spurs had been on course to seal a deal earlier this month but as yet the Belgian remains an Ajax player.



There have been reports that there is an issue between the player and Ajax regarding a possible fee he may be due from the transfer, although Ajax financial director Jeroen Slop has claimed it is Spurs who have slowed down the progress of the deal.



Vertonghen has now revealed he is keen to finalise the move as soon as possible in order to end the uncertainty surrounding his future.



"I had not expected it would go on for this long," he told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.



"I am not just hoping for a solution but I do not assume. I thought this would happen much sooner, Tottenham was fast, serious and concrete.



"Look, Ajax wants what is best for themselves, and I go with myself - that is life, but I have always been good with the fans and the club, I just did not take into account it would take this long."



Should the deal go through, Spurs are expected to pay around £9.5million for the highly-rated 25-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur Must Increase Bid for Jan Vertonghen

Tottenham Hotspur must increase their offer to buy Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen to €15M if they want to take the Belgian to White Hart Lane.



Vertonghen was in the stands when Spurs took on Fulham on Sunday and held talks with Harry Redknapp after the match. According to Voetbal International, the centre back had been granted permission by Ajax coach Frank de Boer, who is resigned to losing the 25-year-old if an agreement can be reached on price.



That agreement however is still elusive, with Spurs’ latest offer for Vertonghen sitting at €12M.



For Ajax, this is not quite good enough, and the freshly crowned Eredivisie champions have slapped a €15M asking price on the defender’s head.



Now the ball is in Tottenham’s court to increase their bid and quickly complete a deal for Vertonghen when talks between the two clubs resume later this week.



Vertonghen, who was named Eredivisie Player of the Year for 2011/12, issued a plea last week for Spurs to thrash out an agreement with Ajax, such is his desire to move to White Hart Lane.



The defender has also been backed to flourish in the Premier League by De Boer, who claimed in April that he is "ready" for English football.