Ajax are determined to keep hold of football chief Marc Overmars.

The Mirror says Ajax are fighting to keep Overmars away from Arsenal after the Gunners stepped up their efforts to make the Dutchman their first technical director.

The Amsterdam giants are aware that the ex-Holland international — currently Ajax's director of football — is wanted back at his former club as they look to revamp their recruitment process. And an enquiry has been made to see if Overmars is interested in the job.

Ajax want the 45-year-old to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2020, but they have been given no encouragement by the ex-winger that he will commit to a new deal.

And Ajax are growing worried that returning to north London is tempting for a man who won a Premier League and FA Cup Double in 1998 during a three-year stint at Highbury.