Ajax open talks with Huntelaar on new contract

Saturday 18 October 2008

Ajax will soon open talks with their forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar about extending his contract that expires in 2010.

The club and the player did that in June of this year as well, but couldn't come to an agreement then.

"Back then we decided to postpone the negotiations long term, because we had to calm down things a bit," General Director at Ajax Henri van der Aat said.

"Huntelaars agent wanted a limited transfer fee of some 17 million euro in the terms. For us that was not acceptable, as he would be gone the next day."

Ajax wanted a fee of 35 million.

Although Manchester City wanted to pay 40 million just before the transfer deadline and Ajax had a negative result of operations of 15.3 million, the club didn't sell.

They prefer to keep the striker in Amsterdam.

"There has never been a need to sell Huntelaar. Not in the past and not now," Financial Director Jeroen Slop says.

The sum of 35 million or even 40 million seem a bit over the top for a striker who has netted only two in the new season.

But his coach Marco van Basten is not worried about his center forward: "He is a real striker and he needs to take the chances he gets and keep doing the things he needs to do."

"Klaas-Jan should focus on the box. That is where we need him. He drops back too often to touch the ball, to be involved. But he shouldn't."