The Financieele Dagblad reports this morning that Ajax is talking to Amsterdam city council about taking over the Arena stadium where the club is based. Stadium director Henk Markerink told the paper he had had several meetings with both parties.

‘The council has indicated it is willing to sell. We hope to reach a decision in a couple of months.’ The stadium is owned by a trust in which Ajax has 13% of the (non-voting) shares and the council 48%. The other shares are in the hands of businesses which have bought corporate seats.