Ajax snatches Luque

Albert Luque, 17 times capped Spanish International, will sign for three years with Ajax. The Newcastle United striker – he could never really settle in the UK – was chased and courted by PSV and Feyenoord as well, but Ajax- cash rich and with solid Spanish links – ended up being the victors…

Luque is not cleared to play the away leg against Slavia Prague coming Wednesday.

Danny Koevermans is not longer a part of the AZ selection. Van Gaal has left his club topscorer of last season out and Koev will take a seat in the stands. Koevermans predicted this a week ago in the VI magazine. “I find it incredible how I got relegated from topscorer to the number four choice for the strikers’ position,” the one-time international fumed. Van Gaal hopes the former Sparta striker will stay at AZ, but knows how the football world works. “I don’t want him to leave, but you know how it is. A week before the closing of the transfer window, some opportunistic club – say Middlesborough or Levante – want an extra signing and out of nowhere they’ll come and pay the money we ask. That are so-called impulse signings. They happen. Although Koevermans may be happy with such a step, I don’t think there’s a lot of strategy behind these deals…”