Ajax coach Erik ten Hag admits they were close to signing Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The Dane has been a revelation for Spurs this season after joining in the summer from Southampton.

And Ten Hag admits Ajax made an attempt, telling Voetbal International: “I really wanted him to be there. We were really close to that.

“We have spoken to him several times."

Ten Hag worked with Hojbjerg as Bayern Munich U19 coach.

He continued: “That boy really could have made our team stronger. Financially we would have made it out, I think. He could also go to other clubs, but wanted to come to Ajax. But then Tottenham came before him and we still got the short straw."