Ajax cull to continue

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic and winger Richard Knopper have already been told they can leave, and now Pius Ikedia, Cedric van der Gun (pictured), Abubakari Yakubu, Ferdi Vierklau and Daniel Cruz have all been made available.

Ajax are hoping that Ibrahimovic and Ikedia have good World Cups for Sweden and Nigeria respectively in order to put themselves in the shop window.

The decision to make midfielder van der Gun available is something of a surprise, as he was viewed, along with Rafael van der Vaart, as one of the bright young hopes at the ArenA.

However, he has been beset by injuries in the last 18 months and Ajax feel a move could give him the chance to start again.

The 23-year-old`s efforts earlier in his career alerted Newcastle and Juventus to his talents, but with doubts over his fitness, renewed interest would seem unlikely at this stage.