Ajax confirms Real Madrid talks about Huntelaar

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Ajax Amsterdam confirmed Tuesday it is in talks with Real Madrid to sell injured captain Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to the Spanish side.

A brief statement posted on the Dutch club's Web site said no deal had been finalized yet with Real on Huntelaar, a prolific goal scorer who is currently recovering from a left ankle ligament injury.

"Ajax is in discussions with Real Madrid about the possible transfer of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to the Spanish club," the statement said. "At this moment there is no agreement between the two clubs."

Spanish media reported Monday that the clubs had reached an agreement for 25-year-old Huntelaar's move in the January transfer window.

Dutch reports put the transfer fee at $25 million.

Huntelaar is seen as a replacement for fellow Netherlands striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery last month.

Huntelaar would be the sixth Dutch player at Madrid, along with Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Royston Drenthe.

Huntelaar, who has 10 goals in 18 internationals and 75 in 90 Dutch league games, has long been linked with the two-time defending Spanish champion. Madrid is currently fourth in the league, six points behind leader Barcelona, and is struggling with a handful of its internationals out with injuries.

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