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Lobont out for four months

07 August: The injury of Bogdan Lobont is worse than expected. Exploratory surgery found that the capsule of his left shoulder had been torn apart. Two years ago, the unfortunate Lobont also sustained a serious injury on his other shoulder which kept him sidelined for months.

For Ajax and Koeman, the injury comes at a most unwelcome time. With the injury of Joey Didulica, Ajax is short of experienced goalies on the eve of the new season. Therefore Ajax is now looking for an extra goal keeper until the winter break. An attempt to hire AZ's second goal keeper Henk Timmer has been, so far, unsuccessful. According to Ajax, AZ wanted to sell him for a 'substantial' amount of money. Koeman reacted cynically that 'it looks like if we're dealing with a transfer of Maradona.'

Earlier in the week, Ajax approached Fred Grim about a temporary come back. But the former Ajax keeper didn't want to return to the selection. He is said to have had a lot of difficulties at his last goodbye and didn't want that to happen again. Koeman doesn't blame Grim for his refusal and is said to understand his decision.

Koeman is still optimistic about finding an extra goalkeeper: "We have a lot of goalkeepers on our wish list. Soon we will know more." Until Ajax finds a new goalkeeper, 19-year old Maarten Stekelenburg will defend the Ajax goal. Robert Zwinkels, already on the bench during the Amsterdam Tournament, will be the second goal keeper. (BV)