Ajax keen on Chivu

Ajax boss Frank de Boer has revealed his club are looking to sign Inter Milan defender Cristian Chivu in the January transfer window.

The 31-year-old Romanian was linked with the Dutch side in the off-season as his current deal at San Siro expires in 2012, and de Boer is keen to bolster his defence in January.

There has been no sign of talks with Inter to extend his terms, meaning he would be able to join his former club on a free deal.

Chivu played at the Amsterdam ArenA between 1999 and 2003 before leaving to get his first taste of Serie A with Roma.

De Boer has made clear he will try to open a dialogue with the defender and his club over a transfer.

“He (Chivu) is a serious option for sure,” De Boer told De Telegraaf.

“Last summer we saw Chivu as a possible replacement for Jan Vertonghen who was wanted by many clubs.”

“We had a look at Joris Mathijsen, but he decided to join Malaga. After that our choice was Cristian.”

But De Boer is unsure if the move is viable as he tries to do some housekeeping with his squad, claiming a transfer depends on other factors.

“It (the Chivu move) depends again on Vertonghen,” he said.

“I don’t think Chivu will come to sit on the bench.”

“He is our plan B and he is a good alternative with a lot of experience at the highest level. Chivu is a great professional, who has always followed Ajax.”

Ajax are fifth in the Eredivisie, 11 points behind leaders AZ Alkmaar, with 20 points from 12 matches so far this season.