The Dutch FA (KNVB) will rule on Wednesday whether AZ Alkmaar have signed Afonso Alves.
KNVB to rule on Alves
The Dutch FA (KNVB) will rule on Wednesday whether AZ Alkmaar have signed Afonso Alves.
Alves agreed terms with AZ last month after Heerenveen gave him permission to discuss a deal.
AZ claim that Alves signed a deal with them which was due to commence on 1st January, but the deal failed to materialise as rival bids came in for the Brazilian striker.
The likes of Manchester City and Fenerbahce moved in, but it is Middlesbrough who appear to be in pole position to clinch his signature.
Indeed Alves was on Teesside over the weekend talking over a move to The Riverside - but this further infuriated AZ, who have now launched the legal action.
Action
AZ are hoping the KNVB will rule in their favour - although they acknowledge that Heerenveen did not sign any of the transfer documents.
"There is a signed transfer agreement between AZ and SC Heerenveen about the transfer of Afonso Alves to AZ. Also there has been an agreement about the share, which Alves gets with a possible transfer according to his contract with Heerenveen, between all parties," said an AZ statement.
"There is a signed contract between AZ and Afonso Alves starting January 1, 2008 and there is a signed transfer document by AZ and Alves which is handled by the KNVB. However, Heerenveen refuses to sign this document
"Because of this AZ has requested court action by KNVB to force Heerenveen to sign the documents."
Middlesbrough are awaiting the outcome of the court case before taking the deal any further, although even if AZ win the case - reports suggest they could then buy the player off them rather than Heerenveen, as Alves himself now seems set on a move away from Holland.
