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MADRID, July 2nd (Reuters) - Real Madrid continued their makeover of the championship-winning squad when they are set to unveiled Dutch duo Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe at the Bernabeu on Monday.
Drenthe, 20, is looking at completing his move from Feyenoord for a reported fee of 14 million euros, while the 23-year-old Sneijder i slooking forward to his proposed switched from Ajax after Real agreed to pay 27 million euros for the highly rated midfielder, who is set to complete contract negoitions shortly.
With the addition of the two Dutchmen, Real have signed six new players at a cost of in excess of 70 million euros ($95.87 million) since coach Fabio Capello was sacked after steering the club to the league title last season.
The signings of Sneijder and Drenthe will bring Real's Dutch contingent to three players, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy having joined the club last season from Manchester United.
Real are also trying to sign Chelsea's Dutch winger Arjen Robben, a target ever since Ramon Calderon was elected president last year.
Amsterdam Arena has been lobby by fans an ex players, with the anticpated depature of Sneijder to Real Madrid in what would be a record fee for the Evedivsie Club. It is Dutch National Manager Van Basten who is lead the charge to call for Cate's head after seeing another Dutch Internationl leave the league.
"Whilst we all like to see our big names move forward to high profile clubs like Real Madrid, its means these players end up taking a lesser role within the team with much reduce game time" Basten quoted
In addtion Marco Van Basten added " A club like Ajax has the ablities to keep quality players in Holland, which aids the National team"
Guus Hiddink is currently been sought after by Van Geel & Jaakke as the ideal replacement. Hiddink after an impressive spell with Australia at the World Cup, is considering the offer amongst a move to Russia. However Hiddink will no doudt look to bring his own staff, which would include Graham Arnold who is currently caretaker of the Australian squad & Ex-International Player Brett Kent who heads up the Australian under 23 academy.
International soccer analyst Tommy Smyth will return to take your questions about all the latest soccer news.
Tommy: (3:09 PM ET ) Hello everybody - delighted to be back with you. This time I'm early, making up for some of my recent tardiness... let's get ready to rumble
John K (St.Bonifacius, Minnesota): Which newly acquired player from this year's summer transfer window will have the biggest impact on his new club? Will it be Sneijder's going to Real Madrid Beckham going to the Galaxy, or someone else?
Tommy: (3:14 PM ET ) I would say it has to be Beckham, as he has signed, Sneijder has yet to complete the deal.
Phil Perth: Will Hiddink sign with Ajax or go to Russia?
Tommy: (3:17 PM ET ) I would say Hiddink and the Russia deal is done. And if you look at it now, Ajax might suprise a few people with there new manager.
Luchy ( Brisbane N.S.W ): Hey Tommy, who are your predictions for the Ajax job? EPL and the Champions League for this upcoming season?
Tommy: (3:18 PM ET ) My gut feel is that Hiddink has earmarked the Aussie Under 23 coach Brett Kent to succeed Cate, Real Madrid and AC Milan one more time.
Tommy: (3:51 PM ET ) Thanks everyone, keep watching - I'll be calling the Red Bulls and Chivas tonight, with Rob Stone, Eric Wynalda and Allen Hopkins.
"Iam Derek Rae" "and I am Tommy Symthe and on Press Pass today Ajax have annouced Australian Under 23 coach and Ex-International to take the mantle at the Amsterdam ArenA"
(Derek) : Tommy, there has been much speculation about the Ajax post since Cate's departure, much on the calling from Van Basten. Is Brett Kent going to come under the heat as did Cate"
(Tommy) : I think Ajax have made a somewhat suprising choice, but he comes highly recommended from Hiddink who declined the role, which underlines he will shortly take up the vacant Russia Role.
(Derek) : So Hiddink pushed Kents name foward to Ajax.
(Tommy) : My mail is that Hiddink spoke very highly of Kents role with the Australian under 23's. His work there in developing upcoming talent, to likes of Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente), Jason Culina (PSV), Eddie Bosnar (Heracles) & Josh Kennedy (Nurnberg) who all have made their caps whilst under Hiddink.
(Derek) : Where too from here Ajax, Sniejder is due to depart for Real Madrid in the next few days. Ajax will need to find some one to fill the void?
(Tommy) : Tough choices for Ajax, I am not sure they can.
"Well thats all we have time for on Press Pass until next week, I am Derek Rae" "and Iam Tommy Symthe"
Amsterdam, July 5TH (Reuters) - Ajax highly rated midfielder has signed a new contract with Ajax. Days after the appointment of Australian under 23 coach Brett Kent has encouraged Sneijder that his future lies at Ajax. Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon is not happy about the dealings of Ajax, in the about face turn at the 11th hour. Calderon is seeking further advice on the transfer, with the governing body FIFA going to take a closer look at the collapsed deal.
Meanwhile NAC Breda have appointed Froppe de Haan as their new manager. The Sixty-three year brings a wealth of footballing experience to the job and will take charge of team affairs with immediate effect.
Amsterdam, July 5TH (Reuters) - Ajax let trio leave, Perez to Atletico $2.5M, Ogararu to Gelsenkirchen $500K and Brazilian Leonardo - Rangers $500K. - Coming into Amsterdam Kent looks for youth with Chinese hot prospect Keeper Wang Dalei for a snip of $250K and Swiss Striker Doudin at $190k.
Dimino starlet's Modric and Corluka who both are subject to fierce bidding war from Inter & Barcelona have now attracked attention of Ajax's new manager Kent, who delcared the pair would add to quality needed to Ajax first team if they were to be succesful in the coming Champions league. Champions League 3rd Draw will be available on ESPN Soccernet, with online chat after with Soccernet's Press Pass team Tommy Symthe.
"Iam Derek Rae" "and I am Tommy Symthe and on Press Pass today Ajax swoop on Dinamo's Vedran Corluka for a fee estimated at $1.8M.
(Derek) : What a signing for Ajax Tommy?
(Tommy) : The Ajax manager has already shown his transfer savy which pulled the out from Real Madrid with a turn aorund to keep Sniejder at the ArenA, and now Corluka from Barcelona and Inter. Wow... Ajax fans must be surely impressed with both players added to the squad.
(Derek) : Tommy, any future signings for Ajax over the next weeks?
(Tommy) : I would like to see them add another striker to Huntelaar and Babel as good as they are, they will need to be rested at some stage through the year. The youngster Manucharyan provides a good back up!.....and he will no doudt get his chance over a few cup rounds, but the squad needs a proven forward to provide good cover.
(Derek) : OK Tommy, up front which sort of player should Ajax be targeting??
(Tommy) : The sort of players Ajax should look at is a Ewerthon (Zaragoza) who is looking to move back to Santos, Huysegems (Feyenoord who finshed last season in the reserves, or a Wesley Sonck which would fit the bill perfectly have spent 2 seasons at Ajax before joing Gladbach.
(Tommy) : Anyway I dont think funds will be a problem for the Ajax Manager!
(Derek) : Thanks Tommy and folks for watching this weeks Press Pass we will beack next week with the latest updates.
Amsterdam, July 26TH (Reuters) - AJax land Rosenberg Foward Steffen Iversen for a nifty $1.2M. Well travelled Iversen who plyed his craft at Tottenham in the EPL before moving to Wolves and later Valerenga. Has spent just the one season at Rosenberg much of that time spent on the sidelines.
Ajax manager Brett Kent admitted that Iversen will not only add much competition to Huntelaar and Babel, but can also play in behind the front two.
Kent add "I am delighted to nabbed a quality player such as Iversen who was a real bargin"
There is plenty of movement in the Ajax ranks with bids reported for winger Nicolae Mita from both Marseille and Sampdoria for undisclosed fees. Middlesbrough also have seeked out an enquiry for Belgium winger Tom De Mul who looks like a promising player that Ajax will want to keep hold off.