Ajax: Bayern interested in signing Van der Wiel

Published Jul. 14, 2010 4:55 p.m. ET

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Ajax said Wednesday that German champion Bayern Munich has made an approach to sign its Netherlands right back Gregory van der Wiel.

Ajax said in a brief statement there was no agreement yet between the two clubs regarding the transfer of the 22-year-old defender.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also confirmed the club's interest in Van der Wiel, but said Bayern is in no hurry to bring him to Munich.

''We are looking at things now and will discuss them again with the coach,'' he said. ''Theoretically, we have until Aug. 31. Sometimes one has to pursue things with great calm so that they don't become too expensive.''

A product of Ajax's renowned youth development program, Van der Wiel played in all but one of the Netherlands' matches in its run to the World Cup final, missing the semifinal against Uruguay only through suspension.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk credited the speedy defender with helping turn around the quarterfinal against Brazil, which the Dutch won 2-1 after going into halftime 1-0 down.

Bayern, which lost last year's Champions League final to Inter Milan, is coached by former Ajax coach Louis van Gaal.

Van der Wiel's Dutch teammates Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel play for Bayern.

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