Tuesday, 7th January, 2014
Ajax have attempted to beat off competition from Liverpool and Swansea City for Ola John by upping their initial loan offer to €600,000.
Ajax were the quickest off the blocks when speculation first began last year, and John is considered a priority for coach Frank de Boer.
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While Liverpool and Chelsea did battle before John joined Benfica in May 2012, Ajax made a €400,000 offer to take the winger on loan for half a season this time around.
And according to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the Eredivisie giants have raised their offer by a further €200,000.
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The move may have tilted the scales in their favour, with a loan agreement understood to be close.
Benfica were hoping to persuade Ajax to foot John's salary as well, but are not expected to find much success on that front.
Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad indicate there is interest from Swansea though there is no solid bid from Michael Laudrup's side yet.
John has been an outcast at Benfica this season – his four appearances in the league have all been as a substitute.
He was tipped for a switch to AC Milan this summer, and Benfica even offered him up, but it failed to materialise.
De Boer vowed to offer former FC Twente man John a way out this season, saying in late November: "He is number one on my list. I'd like to see Ola John move to Amsterdam."
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