Beenhakker wants to keep Zlatan

The Swedish international, in action for his country on Wednesday evening in Russia, has emerged as one of Peter Reid's top targets to partner Kevin Phillips on Wearside.

Although Scandinavian sources claimed a £6 million fee had been agreed for the precocious talent, Beenhakker has insisted that the tall hit-man is still wanted at Amsterdam ArenA.

"We don't want to lose Zlatan," Beenhakker told Algemeen Dagblad.

"Firstly, because of the footballing reasons.

"Furthermore, this bid is not an amount which we could possibly expect for him."

The 20-year-old is rated as one of the brightest attacking starlets in Europe, and Reid will pull off a major coup if he can lure the player to Stadium of Light.

Ibrahimovic himself has admitted he is thinking over his future, with Egyptian star 'Mido' ahead of him in the pecking order at Ajax, and has already declared that Sunderland are keen to sign him.

Tore Andre Flo is another of Reid's targets but that move also looks to have stalled, but the Black Cats boss is confident of pulling off a move for a new striker before the deadline after already landing Stephen Wright and Matty Piper in the past week or so.