"(Marco) van Basten visited us at the training ground this week," Wenger wrote in his programme notes for Saturday's game against Liverpool. "We spoke a bit about Euro 2008 and also about Ajax, because he is taking over there in the summer. We spoke about how he wants to see the future of the club and how he wants to work there, and any similarities with our policy at Arsenal, and about whether they can take players on loan for example."

Any deal could be similar to the arrangement Chelsea have with PSV Eindhoven, which facilitated the arrival at Stamford Bridge of Brazilian defender Alex last summer, after three years at the Dutch club following a move from Santos.