Charisteas to remain at Ajax

Ajax striker Angelos Charisteas will not leave Ajax before the summer.

Contrary to the belief of his club, Ajax striker Angelos Charisteas is not set to leave the Amsterdam ArenA.

The arrival of Klaas Jan Huntelaar at the Eredivisie side appeared to have signalled the end of the Greek's Ajax career.

Danny Blind's side confirmed that Charisteas would be free to leave, although the player's agent dismissed suggestions he would take Ajax up on their offer.

"Angelos will stay with Ajax, there is no reason to talk to other clubs," Charisteas's agent told Algemeen Dagblad.

"If the trainer puts Angelos on the bench then he will respect that.

"We will wait until the summer. After that we will see."

Ryan Babel has also been linked with a move away from Ajax with NEC Nijmegen interested in the striker.

The signing of Huntelaar has increased competition for places in the UEFA Champions League hopefuls' side, although NEC doubt if they will be able to prise Babel away from their Eredivisie rivals.

"They probably won't let him go but we are interested," NEC's technical director Leen Looijen told Omroep Gelderland.