Vlaar hoping to leave AZ

AZ Alkmaar defender Ron Vlaar is keen to leave the club in the winter break.

The 20-year-old is one of the most talented defenders in Holland, but has not been able to break into the first team this season due to the presence of Dutch internationals Barry Opdam and Joris Mathijsen.

AZ are desperate to keep Vlaar, and are not prepared to sell him to his first choice destination of Ajax, but with interest growing in the unsettled youngster, it is unlikely he will stay past January.

Vlaar is looking to play as much as possible before the World Cup in an attempt to impress Holland boss Marco van Basten, and is currently considering his options.

"We are looking at his future," said the player's agent Arnold Oosterveer. "He wants to leave AZ and hopes to move to Ajax. If that doesn't work out, other clubs will come into the equation."

AZ would be reluctant to sell Vlaar this early in his career because he is still under contract as a youth player and they could not demand a large fee for him.