Valencia are pouring all efforts into prising Rafael van der Vaart away from Hamburg before the summer transfer window shuts.

"He is our only alternative, we are not negotiating with anybody else. We are hoping to sign him," a Valencia source told AS.

Van der Vaart, currently out of action at Hamburg with a back complaint, has reportedly told friends he will seek to duck this weekend's Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen in order to keep himself injury free for a move to the Mestalla.