Nine players "not welcome"; Arveladze unlikely to stay

28 June: In an interview with Dutch national newspaper De Telegraaf, Ajax' technical director, Leo Beenhakker, has said that Ajax has sent out a letter to nine contract players, to tell them they are not welcome at Ajax-1's first training of the season, on Thursday, 5 July. He later confirmed this during an interview with AT5 Television. Instead they are due at Ajax-2's first day of preparation: Tuesday, 10 July.

The players involved are Jan van Halst (was loaned out to Fortuna Sittard), Tijjani Babangida (was loaned out to Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Peter Hoekstra (was loaned out to FC Groningen), Brutil Hosé (was loaned out to De Graafschap), Pascal Heije (was loaned out to RBC Roosendaal), Tom Sier, Kevin Bobson and Jason Culina. Ajax hopes to have either sold or loaned out a number of those players, before 10 July.

Beenhakker also said that Ajax is still negotiating with Shota Arveladze and his personal manager about a new contract with Ajax. Beenhakker was pessimistic about the progress made. The Georgian's financial demands are much higher than what Ajax wants to offer. Beenhakker fears Ajax and the striker will not reach an agreement.

In the mean time Ajax is till talking to Greek top side Panathinaikos Athens about a possible Wamberto transfer. However, according to Beenhakker, "this is unlikely to happen".

Surprisingly, Beenhakker quite bluntly called Nikos Machlas "not a real Ajax striker" during the AT5 interview. However, he could not reveal any details about the Greek's future in Amsterdam. Beenhakker did underline that new-signed striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be assigned the numer 9 shirt and will be in the starting line-up at the beginning of the season. (MP)

Sources: De Telegraaf, AT5 television