Tuesday, 25th October, 2011
Chelsea are still keen on launching a January swoop for Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas was desperate to add another forward-thinking full back to his ranks during the summer, but missed out on FC Porto man Alvaro Pereira and, when Chelsea finally switched their attention to Van der Wiel, Ajax were unwilling to sell.
Porto have not changed their stance on Pereira and Chelsea would have to wait until the summer to renew their interest in the Uruguayan – too late for a Premier League title chasing Villas-Boas.
And so the Portuguese is set to try again for Van der Wiel, confident that, if a substantial bid is received towards the start of the January transfer window, Ajax will relent.
Crucial to Villas-Boas’ hopes could well be Ajax’s performance in the Champions League.
Sat second in Group D, the Dutch giants look to be in a fight with French outfit Lyon for the runners-up berth behind Real Madrid.
Should Ajax exit Europe’s blue-ribbon competition, the chances of the 23-year-old Van der Wiel leaving the Amsterdam ArenA rise considerably.
Chelsea have long monitored the Dutch international and believe he would be perfectly suited to life at Stamford Bridge.
Villas-Boas may have to wait a little longer however to learn whether a new swoop would pay dividends.
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