Trabelsi sues Ajax for free transfer

Tunisian star Hatem Trabelsi is taking his current club Ajax to court over a contract extension they decided to enforce - meaning he still has two years left to run on his deal at The Amsterdam ArenA.

Trabelsi thought he was available on a free transfer this summer, but it now seems he could be tied to the Amsterdam club for another two years.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Trabelsi are now looking into the deal which they claim has broken European Union law under article 39 of the EU treaty.

They claim that such one-sided agreements are a restriction of free traffic of employees.

Ajax, however, are confident that they are in the right - meaning they will decide Trabelsi's future and not the player.

"We have had advice internally and externally and we have the opinion that we don't have anything to worry about," said the club's general director Arie van Eijden.

If Trabelsi fails to get his new clause annulled then his dreams of securing a move to one of Europe's elite this summer could be ended.

English giants Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle have all taken a keen interest, together with Juventus and Internazionale - all of whom will be keeping a close eye on the court case which is due to be heard on May 4.