Chelsea have remained silent on suggestions by Ajax technical director Martin van Geel that the Barclays Premier League club did not conduct themselves in the proper manner over their bid to land coach Henk ten Cate.

Liverpool and Ajax are set to strike a deal for talented winger Ryan Babel in the coming days according to the Dutch club – but only if the Merseysiders meet their £13.5m asking price.

Tottenham today denied they had begun the search for a successor to sporting director Frank Arnesen.