Newcastle suffer major blow as Ajax tell clubs to ‘stop calling’ after Arsenal legend Marc Overmars extends contract
NEWCASTLE have been told to look elsewhere for a director of football after Marc Overmars signed a contract extension at Ajax.
The Dutch legend has put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at the Johan Cruyff Arena until June 2026.
Ajax announced the news on their social media channels with a cheeky warning for other clubs to ‘stop calling’.
And the ex-Arsenal star said: “I still feel very excited by my work and get a lot of satisfaction out of it.
“I have a feeling that my work at Ajax is not done yet, so I would like to continue here.”
That will come as a blow to Toon bosses, who had been hoping to nab the 48-year-old Dutchman as their sporting director.
Former Chelsea transfer mogul Michael Emenalo has also rejected their advances in the last week.
The Magpies are scrambling to escape the relegation zone as they set about their rebuild following the Saudi-led takeover earlier this year.
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They have appointed ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe as their new manager and are eyeing reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window.
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Overmars was always going to be tricky to tempt to St James’ Park given his original Ajax contract was set to run until 2024.
But Howe is thought to be targeting a shortlist of up to six new signings next month, with Manchester United star Jesse Lingard and Chelsea playmaker Ross Barkley among them.
Overmars is a key figure in yet another Ajax rebuild as the Eredivisie leaders punch above their weight in Europe.
The 2019 Champions League semi-finalists are through to the knockout stages of this year’s competition, with boss Erik ten Hag mooted as a long-term Red Devils manager.
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